As long ago as 1929, African Americans secured legislation that authorized the construction of a national memorial building to honor their contributions to America. But it wasn't until almost 75 years later that Congress finally passed the National Museum of African American History and Culture Act. This act finally paved the way for the construction of a museum within the Smithsonian Institution to be dedicated to the history and culture "of individuals of African descent living in the United States."
On Feb. 8, following the first meeting of the Council of the National Museum of African American History and Culture, President Bush observed that such a museum might find a home on the Mall.
Despite the long delay in bringing this museum to fruition, the history and culture of the African diaspora have been well preserved. The Moorland-Spingarn Research Center at Howard University, the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture of the New York Public Library and the Library of Congress have maintained extensive collections, and about 3,000 museums of varying sizes nationwide have devoted themselves to African American history and culture. Black churches, African American historical societies, and historically black colleges and universities also have collected printed matter, manuscripts, art and artifacts. Further, private collections, such as those of Walter O. Evans in Detroit and Paul R. Jones in Delaware, contain pre-Civil War artifacts and documents.
The National Museum of the American Indian and the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum demonstrate the broad public interest in such institutions and their remarkable capacity to educate the public on topics of historical and cultural significance. Museums situated on the Mall are distinguished not only by the symbolism of their location; they also benefit from the unparalleled documentation and exhibition capability of the Smithsonian Institution.
The observance of Black History Month provides an opportunity to reaffirm the value of our public spaces in reconciling the past, present and future. While private resources will be integral to the project, an appropriation of federal funds in the current budget would provide the springboard from which to launch fundraising. More than that, inclusion in the budget would be a powerful symbol of our collective commitment to a long-overdue monument to African Americans.
H. PATRICK SWYGERT
President
Howard University
Washington
