Tag: History

This Friday marks a historic milestone for one of the country's most controversial Black liberation protests: Black August. It's been nearly 55 years since the first observance took shape inside California's San Quentin State Prison. Black August grew from a turbulent chapter in history marked by prison uprisings, political radicalism, racial injustice and the deaths of men including Black Panther member George Jackson who became symbols of resistance.

Before Zohran Kwame Mamdani stepped into New York City Hall to become the city's youngest mayor in over 40 years, his namesake, Kwame Nkrumah, was actively dismantling British colonial rule in Ghana in the 1950s. The Ghanaian revolutionary spent a decade in the United States and the United Kingdom working alongside political icons like W.E.B. Du Bois and Marcus Garvey to host anti-colonial summits before becoming Ghana's first president.

The Smithsonian Institution offers over 21 museums, many located in the nation's capital, and most are free. Collections include the National Museum of African American History and Culture, National Postal Museum, and Anacostia Community Museum. The National Museum of African Art features exhibits exploring art through diverse lenses, while the National Air and Space Museum celebrates human flight achievements and stories of pioneering Black aviators. The National Portrait Gallery holds over 26,000 portraits including presidents and civil rights icons. Visitors can explore contemporary art at the Hirshhorn Museum, entertainment history at the American History Museum, and natural wonders at the Natural History Museum featuring the Hope Diamond.

The Smithsonian has long been known as America's attic, preserving triumphs, contradictions, innovations and struggles for all generations. With 21 museums, the National Zoo, and millions of objects in its collections, the Smithsonian is far more than a tourist destination in Washington, D.C. It's a living archive of American culture, creativity, and resilience. From iconic artifacts to groundbreaking exhibitions, these are reasons the Smithsonian remains one of the country's greatest cultural institutions.

As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, confronting American history requires remembering the enslaved Black Americans who physically and economically built this nation. While plantation tours can be powerful tools for understanding the horrifying realities of slavery, not all historic sites treat the past with the same honesty. Tracking visitor reviews, online ratings, community word-of-mouth analyzed which locations offer an unvarnished look at Black American history and which ones still gloss over slavery to sell a romanticized fantasy of the antebellum South.

Explore the legacy of America's first African American president as the Obama Presidential Center opens on Chicago's South Side, showcasing the history and impact of this landmark institution.