LONDON, England –The Supremes singer Mary Wilson opened her storage chest to unveil some dresses the group wore during their amazing career. Cute, you might think.

CNN correspondent Alphonso Van Marsh interviews Mary Wilson, member of girl group The Supremes, in London.

But as I learned – when we got an exclusive first peek at the exhibition at London's Victoria & Albert Museum last weekend – there's more to this story than meets the eye.

"The Supremes from the Mary Wilson Collection" exhibit is more than just dresses on display. What's interesting about this museum exhibition is the context in which these performance costumes are placed.

The Supremes remain one of the most successful vocal groups in American history. And they were at their most popular at the height of the American civil rights period: a time when African Americans were struggling to be treated as equal in the country that enslaved their ancestors.

Between the dresses, there are equally visual stunning details about the crossover appeal of The Supremes. About the respect these young women commanded. About the aspirations they represented. About why these young women were a tremendous source of pride for many African Americans then, and today.

So it was with a bit of awe that I met and interviewed one of the original Supremes. I'll even admit to taking a picture with Wilson - quite a tacky move for a journalist. But I didn't care.