New African-American Museums

In my article this week, I discussed the fact museums can be politically charged and controversial. Many of these controversies stem from the fact that the issues, either historic or contemporary are simply misunderstood. The efforts of two museums focusing on African-American history and culture will attempt to combat much of this misinformation pertinent to Black history and culture in the United States. Earlier this week, a Washington Post article discussed the fundraising efforts for a new United States National Slavery Museum. Also appearing this month in Smithsonian Magazine was an article announcing that a site has been selected for the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC).

Both museums are attempting to raise funds in rather creative fashions. The United States National Slavery Museum hosted a banquet which featured attractions from choirs to comedians. The NMAAHC, in conjuncture with the Smithsonian's Center for Folklife and Culture Heritage will present a concert series highlighting musical traditions from New Orleans.

In addition to the concert series, the NMAAHC plans to raise awareness for their efforts by helping develop a traveling exhibition with the National Portrait Gallery. The exhibition, "Let Your Motto Be Resistance: African American Portraiture", will feature photographers such as Berenice Abbott and Gordon Parks and prominent subjects such as Sojourner Truth and Nat King Cole.