On February 22, 2012, the ground was broken for a very special place: the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture. The chapters of author Tonya Bolden’s remarkable book guide readers seamlessly through the complex elements of building a museum from scratch: articulating its mission, seeking location and design ideas, gathering exhibit materials from everyday sources as well as famous people and notable events, and maintaining a welcoming venue, all while holding foremost its educational and inspirational value for all audiences. Bolden introduces the key people behind the museum—its Director Lonnie Bunch and countless others (architects, construction workers, curators, contributors and so many more) who made the museum a reality. Bolden’s text is highlighted throughout by dozens of well-chosen photos and artifacts, resulting in a truly fascinating saga.
The NMAAHC opened for visitors on September 24, 2016, but it had been a vision in the eyes of many people decades earlier. The idea to honor “the Negro Soldiers and Sailors who fought in the Wars of Our Country” was hatched when Civil War veterans met for a commemorative encampment in 1915, in Washington, DC. Over the following years, various African American leaders contributed to the public and legislative vision; the concept experienced ups and downs but the dream continued. Where in our capital city might such a wonderful museum be placed? How would it be funded? What would it contain and how would people learn about it? Finally, in 1988, Representative John Lewis of Georgia introduced a bill for a national museum that would be included among the Smithsonian’s remarkable array of museums. By 2003 a final bill was passed by Congress, a commission created, and a plan of action written. The plan was comprehensive, built upon the idea that African American history and culture can be a lens through which to consider what being an American means; that bringing together materials from all walks of life in the African American experience is valuable; that collaboration with a range of museums and educational settings works; and that welcoming all visitors is paramount.
As Tonya Bolden says in her preface: a museum’s aim is “to safeguard remnants of history and culture that inspire, enlighten, and kindle the curiosity of the children and adults who come through its doors, generation after generation.” This book is the perfect way to understand a museum from conception to reality, and a perfect way to anticipate visiting the rich collection of the Smithsonian's National African American Museum of History and Culture! Ages 9 and up. Viking Books for Young Readers, 2016.
Another book readers may enjoy along with Bolden’s book is Sing a Song: How ‘Lift Every Voice and Sing’ Inspired Generations, by Kelly Starling Lyons and illustrated by Keith Mallett. On September 24, 2016, this song was sung at the opening of the National Museum of African American History and Culture. Known to many as the Black national anthem, “Lift Every Voice and Sing” is a richly inspiring song of hope sung by communities far and wide since penned by James Weldon Johnson in 1900 as part of his students’ celebration of Abraham Lincoln’s birthday. Lyons’s book captures beautifully how the song has been passed along from parent to child, how it has been an enduring source of strength for individuals, communities and choruses over many years and remains so today. Ages 5-8. Nancy Paulsen Books, 2019.
https://nmaahc.si.edu/highlights-our-dedication-ceremony
