Past/Present/Future Memory, Legislation, and the National Museum of African American History and Culture

Summary

In this article, LeRonn Brooks discusses the history of legislation behind the establishment of a museum of African American History. Beginning with the first House Resolution in 1916, Brooks outlines the many different ideas for a monument or museum over the years. The movement is re-energized in the 1960's after the Civil Rights movement, but suffers from disagreement among members of the African American community over who should have control of the museum, and whether or not a national museum would be detrimental to the efforts of other black museums and libraries already established in the United States. Finally, Brooks discussed Congressman John Lewis and his incredibly important contributions to the movement to get a museum established, and what the museum stands to represent in the future.

Subject

• Lewis, John 1940 Feb. 21-
• African American Museum Project
• Presidential Commission on the Development of the National Museum of African American History and Culture
• National African American Museum Project
• National Museum of African American History and Culture

Category

Smithsonian History Bibliography

Notes

The author states that Congressman Dyer is African-America, however, we have found no evidence to support this claim.

Contained within

Callaloo Vol 38 Journal

Contact information

Institutional History Division, Smithsonian Institution Archives, 600 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20024-2520, SIHistory@si.edu

Date

• 2015
• 20th century

Topic

• Slavery
• Memorials
• Congressional Hearings
• Civil rights movements
• History
• Racism
• Civil rights movements--History
• African Americans--History
• African Americans

Place

• United States
• Mall, The (Washington, D.C.)

Form/Genre

Congressional Report

Physical description

Number of pages : 17; Page numbers : 711-728

Full Record

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