Journey through the lens of the African American experience. #APeoplesJourney, #ANationsStory Legal: si.edu/termsofuse@NMAAHCdirector

Joined May 2009
7,367 Photos and videos
#NMAAHCNews: Today, we are opening two companion exhibitions, “Revelation: A Journey into Abstraction” and “Reset: Abstraction Embodied in Design” in The Rhimes Family Foundation Visual Arts Gallery. Learn more: s.si.edu/4eBeyme
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This Summer Solstice weekend, join us at @NMAAHC for At the Vanguard—A ’90s College Reunion 🎶 Inspired by 1990s Black college culture our HBCU exhibition, expect DJs, dancing, throwback vibes, and nostalgia all weekend long. ✨ Free to attend. No passes required.
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Today, we remember singer Peabo Bryson. Affectionately known to many as “the Voice of Love,” his smooth, soulful voice and captivating performances left a lasting impression on audiences across generations and musical genres.
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#OnThisDay in 1958, groundbreaking musician Prince was born in Minneapolis. He is known for his genre-defying sounds, electrifying performances, and unmistakable style. See Prince's lavender satin outfit in our “Musical Crossroads” exhibition. #BlackMusicMonth
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Join us for Juneteenth Community Day honoring Ms. Opal Lee, the “Grandmother of Juneteenth,” ahead of her 100th birthday later this year. Enjoy storytelling, music, food, and hands-on activities celebrating freedom. Free. Registration required: s.si.edu/3Q50Nmj
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#OnThisDay in 1921, one of the deadliest racial massacres in U.S. history began in the thriving Greenwood African American community of Tulsa, Oklahoma. Black Wall Street in Tulsa, OK, was destroyed by a mob. Explore: s.si.edu/3MV2U5z. #APeoplesJourney #ANationsStory
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At Jackson State University @jacksonstateU, Margaret Walker documented events through literature, art, and networking events to help future generations appreciate their history. Walker founded the Institute for the Study of the History, Life, and Culture of Black People in 1968.
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"In Slavery’s Wake: Making Black Freedom in the World” opened today at @Iziko_Museums in South Africa. #InSlaverysWake is a collaborative international exhibition exploring the history and legacies of slavery, colonialism and Black freedom-making: s.si.edu/3VHimJo
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📖 Applications are now open for our museum's ️Fall 2026 internships! "I’ve been very grateful for opportunities to explore my interest related to museum work including curation, collecting and museum education." - Jamie M., 2025 Apply today: s.si.edu/434KJ4x
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To mothers and mother figures: thank you for everything, today and every day. Happy Mother’s Day! 💐
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Join us for a #Juneteenth celebration on Friday, June 19 honoring Opal Lee, the “Grandmother of Juneteenth.” Enjoy a joyful day of storytelling, music, workshops, food and more. s.si.edu/4tZvPL1
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Famed milliner Mae Reeves was a businesswoman whose legacy was to empower and enfranchise African Americans across Philadelphia and the country.
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Reeves’ hats are on display in our museum in our Power of Place exhibition, where you can step inside Mae’s Millinery Shop to hear about her life and impact in her own words and see a selection of more than 60 original Mae Reeves creations.  Learn more: s.si.edu/4920bRL
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Fashion doesn’t begin on the runway; it begins with vision. In 1979, Lois K. Alexander Lane founded the Black Fashion Museum to protect Black fashion history. Today, her 3,000-object collection is preserved here. Explore: s.si.edu/48DQifX
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Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) fostered community ties by providing farmers with sustainability and social well-being models through extension programs, like the one the pictured here. This allowed them to educate and provide resources to rural communities.
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🎉 SAVE THE DATE 🎉 for a spectacular celebration! Join us for a weekend of activities and surprises as we commemorate 10 incredible years since opening our museum in September. Sign up to stay in the loop: nmaahc.si.edu/10thsignup #NMAAHC10 🎤 @mclyte
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This #EarthDay, enjoy the beautiful orchids while on view for a few more days in our More Than a Flower: The Connective Power of Orchids exhibition! s.si.edu/4clAsJe
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John Hope Franklin discovered orchids in 1959 while teaching in Hawaii —marking the start of a lifelong passion. He brought plants to Brooklyn, built greenhouses in Chicago and Durham with his wife, Aurelia, and found joy and respite from academic work in cultivating them.
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Learn more about cultivators like Franklin and a variety of orchids in the exhibition More Than a Flower: The Connective Power of Orchids on view @NMAAHC through April 26: s.si.edu/4clAsJe
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Thank you DC, for showing up! Yesterday was a powerful reminder that DC’s legacy is not just something we honor from the past; it’s something we continue to build together, right here and right now. Looking forward to continuing the connection throughout the year. #NMAAHC10
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