"He is a Negro Still": The Poetry of Solomon Brown

Solomon Brown—who became, at just 23 years old, the Smithsonian’s first African American employee—had a long career that spanned the early days of the Smithsonian and the development of the U.S. National Museum. A true Renaissance man, Brown was also a gifted naturalist, illustrator, community leader, and poet. One of his most powerful pieces of verse was written in 1891, called “He Is a Negro Still.” 

Learn more about Brown’s life and work with the Smithsonian, and read the poem in full, in our web exhibit “African American Contributions to the Smithsonian: Challenges and Achievements.”

Related Resources

The Poetry of Solomon Brown, The Bigger Picture, Smithsonian Institution Archives 

Solomon G. Brown, Renaissance Man, The Bigger Picture, Smithsonian Institution Archives