African American History Museum
Twenty-Four Smithsonian Shows to See in 2024
Election-year items, truth serum, Nigerian art and a pioneering self-driving car are on display this year
What Genealogical Records Taught Me About My Family
For millions of enslaved people, bondage stole more than freedom—it severed a link to the past. Now their descendants are recovering their heritage
Unearth the Roots of Alice Walker’s ‘The Color Purple’
Gardeners discuss the oft-overlooked symbolism of nature that underlies the Pulitzer-prize winning novel
What the Color Purple Means to Oprah Winfrey
A new Shawn Michael Warren portrait of the legendary talk show host is now on view at the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery
Anchor From 1906 Shipwreck Found in Florida
The steamship "St. Lucie" went down in a hurricane, killing 26 passengers on board
Smithsonian Scholars Recommend Their Favorite Books of 2023
Curators and staffers satisfied their endless curiosity with novels, short stories, biographies, art collections and journalistic reporting
The Smithsonian Acquires Major Works by and About Phillis Wheatley
The stunning trove of texts sheds new light on Wheatley, the first African American to publish a book of poetry
To Mark the 60th Anniversary of the March on Washington, Martin Luther King Jr.'s 'I Have a Dream' Speech Goes on Display
The draft on view at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture was produced a few hours before King took to the podium
The Misunderstood Visionary Behind the Black Panther Party
Huey P. Newton has been mythologized and maligned since his murder 34 years ago. His family and friends offer an intimate look inside his life and mind
How Hip-Hop Was Born 50 Years Ago in a Block Party in the Bronx
Arising out of New York's close-knit Black communities, the genre revolutionized the music industry and gave rise to a new generation of sounds and stars
A Monument Honoring Shirley Chisholm, the First Black Congresswoman, Is Coming to Brooklyn
After years of delays, New York City officially approved a statue commemorating the borough native and political trailblazer
Why Are Chickens So Bad at Flying? And More Questions From Our Readers
You’ve got questions. We’ve got experts
The Genius Behind Bisa Butler's Vibrant Quilts
The renowned artist's exuberant portraits celebrate Black history and take the form to a new level
'Ebony' Magazine's Vintage Test Kitchen Finds a Home at the Smithsonian
The 1970s-era kitchen will undergo conservation at the National Museum of African American History and Culture
Tina Turner, Queen of Rock 'n' Roll, Left an Indelible Mark on Music History
The barrier-breaking singer, who died this week at 83, influenced countless musicians who followed in her footsteps
What Is Afrofuturism?
A new exhibition defines how artistry and activism over decades gave rise to the idea and promise of a future that could advance Black life
Movements Capturing the Spiritual Roots of Black Culture
A new exhibition of rarely seen images and artifacts chronicles the African American religious experience
These Photographs of Spirituality in America Will Speak to Your Soul
A new volume from the National Museum of the African American History and Culture explores religion in the Black community
Twenty-Three Smithsonian Shows to See in 2023
A rare Bible, George Clinton's colorful wig, Disney World history and Japanese ghosts debut this year
How History Forgot Rosewood, a Black Town Razed by a White Mob
A century ago, a false accusation sparked the destruction of the Florida community
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