There’s a beautiful new way to see the world in downtown Atlanta — by literally walking in someone else’s shoes. The National Center for Civil and Human Rights has brought “A Mile in My Shoes” to its third floor, a one-of-a-kind exhibit that turns empathy into something you can feel with every single step.
Conceived by British artist Clare Patey as part of the Empathy Museum, the installation is wonderfully simple: you choose a pair of real shoes from the collection, slip them on, and walk a path while listening — through headphones — to the voice of the very person who wore them. The storytellers come from every walk of life: a Syrian refugee, a neurosurgeon, a war veteran, a sex worker. Their stories are honest, personal, and unforgettable, exploring love, loss, identity, hope, and resilience.
There are no screens, no noise, no distractions — just you, a pair of shoes, and a story worth walking for. It’s a quiet, powerful reminder of how much connects us across our differences, and one of the most moving experiences now on view in Atlanta. The exhibit is included with museum admission. The Center is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 AM to 5 PM and Sundays from noon to 5 PM, with last entry at 4 PM.
Photo: Alprimrose / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
