The new National African American Museum of History and Culture is a powerful and timely symbol of hope. Its African-American lens repairs long neglect in the presentation of American history on a national stage, and its presence substantiates American values of inclusion and diversity. The huge crowds that it has drawn since opening testify to the need for such a museum. According to staff members, visitors stay for hours, far longer than the average museum visit.
Yet it is the less visible work of the education department that I find most exciting. As guest editors Esther Washington and Anna Hindley explain in their introduction, external expectations propelled members of the education department to develop the expertise to address race and race relations with students, teachers, the public, and museum professionals through workshops, public programs, and social media. Talking about race, race relations, and racism has always been difficult for many people. The education department’s ability to open and sustain conversations across races is a critically important contribution to society.
Kudos to the guest editors Washington and Hindley and to all the contributing authors in these pages. They pulled off a tough job to write, revise, and proof these articles, first while scrambling to open the museum, and then while dealing with the complexities of running a new entity filled with large crowds. Sitting in my office over 400 miles away I’ve relished my armchair view of their experiences through phone conversations and emails.
Although most of the articles in the guest-edited section focus on a single museum, the authors took pains to consider how their experiences and expertise could inform other museums. These articles contain many good ideas and approaches that can be applied elsewhere. May you find inspiration and guidance for your own work in these pages.
About the editor
Cynthia Robinson is the director of museum studies at Tufts University, where she specializes in museum education. She spent 25 years working in and with museums and has extensive experience in developing programs, curricula, and exhibitions, as well as in museum management and administration.