African American History
A Massive New Database Will Connect Billions of Historic Records to Tell the Full Story of American Slavery
The online resource will offer vital details about the toll wrought on the enslaved
Published More Than 50 Years Ago, 'I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings' Launched a Revolution
Maya Angelou’s breakthrough memoir forever changed American literature and helped carve a new space for black self-expression
This May Be the Earliest Known Image of Enslaved Individuals With Cotton
A remarkable daguerreotype was recently acquired by the Nelson-Atkins Museum in Kansas City
Every Year Just 'Bout This Time, Kurtis Blow Celebrates With a Rhyme
In a salute to "Christmas Rappin,'" hip-hop chronicler Bill Adler tells the tale of how the famous rap recording came to life
Barbara Hillary, a Pioneering African-American Adventurer, Dies at 88
At 75, Hillary became the first black woman to set foot on the North Pole
The Museum Tour Guide Who Shaped Mark Twain’s Views on Race
While traveling in Venice for what would be his best-selling memoir, the author’s encounter with an African-American art expert forever changed his writing
Celebrating a Century of Women’s Contributions to Comics and Cartoons
A new exhibit marking the 100th anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment features innovative illustrations from the suffragist movement to today
How Lil Nas X and 'Old Town Road' Defy Categorization
The self-taught 20-year-old musician galloped to global fame with his chart-topping song that fuses country and hip-hop together
Jim Crow Compounded the Grief of African American Mothers Whose Sons Were Killed in World War I
Smithsonian Books presents ‘We Return Fighting,’ a groundbreaking exploration of African American involvement in World War I
A Maryland Community Gathered to Remember the Lynching of George Peck
Montgomery County residents collected soil from the site where Peck was dragged to his death in 1880
The True Story Behind the Harriet Tubman Movie
“Harriet,” a new film starring Cynthia Erivo, is the first feature film dedicated solely to the American icon
NYC Monument Will Honor African-American Family Displaced to Make Way for Central Park
But the project has drawn criticism, particularly because the monument will stand some 20 blocks north of Seneca Village's historic location
The Long Journey of Charlie Parker’s Saxophone
The newly acquired instrument, played by the father of bebop, is on view at the National Museum of African American History and Culture
The Tragic Story of America’s First Black Music Star
Thomas Wiggins, an African-American musician marketed as ‘Blind Tom’, had a lucrative career—but saw none of the profits himself
Was the 1968 TV Show 'Julia' a Milestone or a Millstone for Diversity?
Diahann Carroll's award-winning series was a hit, but it delivered a sanitized view of African-American life
World-Renowned Soprano Jessye Norman Dies at 74
The opera star, who championed diversity in the arts, was known for her singular voice and versatile range
Lonnie Bunch Sizes Up His Past and Future at the Smithsonian
Bunch’s new memoir details the tireless work it took to build NMAAHC and offers insights into his priorities as Smithsonian Secretary
After a 30 Year Absence, the Controversial ‘Porgy and Bess’ Is Returning to the Met Opera
From its debut, the show has been accused of cultural appropriation and stereotyping
How Lonnie Bunch Built a Museum Dream Team
An exclusive excerpt from the Smithsonian Secretary’s new book, ‘A Fool’s Errand’
Here's the Guitar That Prince Revolutionized Music With in 'Purple Rain'
The artist gave the "cloud" guitar to the Smithsonian in 1993, but only now do we know it's the same instrument used in the iconic movie
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