1. A Museum of Unmatched Significance

The National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) serves as a profound cultural and historical sanctuary, offering a space that not only celebrates the history, artistry, and contributions of African Americans but also confronts the raw, painful realities of their struggles. It’s not merely a collection of artifacts—it is a narrative of endurance, resistance, and transcendence that challenges how we, as a society, view the African American experience.

The museum is an embodiment of resilience and healing—it acknowledges the oppression faced by African Americans but refuses to let that oppression define them. By ensuring that Black history is interwoven into the fabric of American history, it de-centers the narrative of white supremacy and amplifies voices that have long been marginalized or silenced.

2. The Weight of Early History: Confronting America’s Original Sin

Walking through the first part of the museum—which is deliberately placed at the lowest levels of the building—feels like descending into the depths of America’s painful past. Here, you are reminded of the ugly truth of slavery—the human trafficking, violence, and the systematic stripping away of dignity from millions of people. It is difficult to comprehend, let alone process, the true horror of this history.

• The Green Book exhibits the ways in which Black Americans navigated a dangerous landscape of segregation and racism just to exist safely in public spaces.
• Artifacts from the Jim Crow era and the African slave trade show the brutal legacy of economic and racial exploitation that laid the foundation for much of America’s wealth.
• The Emmett Till exhibit is especially jarring—a visual reminder of how the American justice system systematically dehumanized Black lives, reducing their value to nothing more than a spectacle of violence for public consumption.

This section is the harshest part of the museum, and it is necessary. It demands that we confront the depth of America’s sin. The emotional toll it takes is significant, and it is impossible to walk through it and not feel anger, sorrow, and a deep sense of injustice. However, it is also essential for understanding the necessity of healing and the importance of confronting the past to move forward.

3. The Triumph of Culture: Transcendence Amidst Oppression

The museum, however, doesn’t allow us to wallow in despair for too long. As you ascend, you feel a palpable shift—a movement from darkness to light, from suffering to celebration. This is the section where Black joy, creativity, and innovation are on full display.

• Music and Art: The artifacts from icons like George Clinton’s Mothership symbolize more than just an artistic movement—they represent a deep cultural rebirth. Through music, African Americans reclaimed their voices and spoke to the world, not as victims, but as creators and innovators.
• Sports and Film: Black athletes and entertainers revolutionized global culture. Muhammad Ali wasn’t just a boxer; he was a symbol of defiance and resistance. Figures like Sidney Poitier and Spike Lee weren’t merely film stars—they challenged and redefined Hollywood itself.
• Civil Rights and Politics: Icons like Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, and Shirley Chisholm did not simply fight for rights—they fought for a vision of America that lived up to its own ideals of freedom and equality.

In these sections, the museum shows that even though African Americans faced—and continue to face—exploitation, exclusion, and violence, they shaped and transformed culture in every way possible, creating legacies that have changed the world forever. This balance of celebrating triumph over adversity is what makes the museum so profound. It doesn’t just tell the story of pain but of people who triumphed and thrived against all odds.

4. A Museum Under Siege: The Attack on Historical Truth

Despite its beauty and educational power, the museum faces growing political opposition. The backlash is symptomatic of a broader effort to erase or whitewash uncomfortable historical truths about America’s legacy of racism and systemic injustice.

Some political figures have begun to call institutions like the NMAAHC “problematic,” accusing them of being too focused on racial division—a dangerous claim that seeks to discredit Black history as divisive rather than foundational. The idea that confronting racism is somehow harmful to unity ignores the truth that ignoring history only perpetuates division.

Furthermore, the museum’s focus on racial oppression and systemic violence is often misconstrued as “anti-white,” when, in reality, it is a call for America to reckon with its past. The Emmett Till exhibit, for instance, is not about hatred of white people but about the violent realities Black people have endured and the systemic forces that allowed it.

Such critiques risk diminishing the museum’s purpose, which is not about promoting division but truth-telling and understanding. By suppressing or distorting these uncomfortable truths, there is a danger that the next generation will not have access to the full scope of history, and they may not understand how much work remains to be done in the fight for racial equality.

5. Why You Must Visit: The Urgency of the Moment

Visiting the National Museum of African American History and Culture is an essential experience for everyone, regardless of race or background. It’s not just for Black people; it is a national treasure for all Americans. It provides a fuller, richer understanding of what America is and where it has been, and more importantly, it helps us understand where we need to go.

But with the increasing efforts to suppress or reframe the narrative of Black history, there is a real urgency to experience it now. We must support these institutions—not just with our feet but with our voices. As long as we allow these historical truths to be obscured, we risk erasing the lived experiences of millions of Black Americans whose stories are foundational to who we are as a nation.

The museum’s existence is a challenge to complacency. It asks us to reflect on our country’s true legacy—the good, the bad, and the ugly—and pushes us to understand how that history shapes our present and future.

We must preserve it, protect it, and share it—because once it’s gone, we may never get the chance to reckon with the past in such a visceral way again.