Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture
is truly groundbreaking!
The first national museum whose mission is to illuminate for all people,
the rich, diverse, complicated, and important experiences and
contributions of African Americans in America is opening.
And the history of NMAAHC--the last museum to be built on the National
Mall--is the history of America.
The campaign to set up a museum honoring black citizens is nearly 100
years old; building the museum itelf and assembling its incredibly
far-reaching collections is a modern story that involves all kinds of
people, from educators and activists, to politicians, architects,
curators, construction workers, and ordinary Americans who donated
cherished belongings to be included in NMAAHC's thematically-organized
exhibits.
Award-winning author Tonya Bolden has written a fascinating chronicle of
how all of these ideas, ambitions, and actual objects came together in
one incredible museum. Includes behind-the-scenes photos of literally
how to build a museum that holds everything from an entire segregated
railroad car to a tiny West African amulet worn to ward off slave
traders.