This episode of Nonprofit Report features a conversation with two leading voices in African American museums: Terri Lee Freeman, Executive Director of the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History and Culture, and LaNesha DeBardelaben, President & CEO of the Northwest African American Museum in Seattle.
Guests:
Terri Lee Freeman, Executive Director, Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History and Culture
LaNesha DeBardelaben, President & CEO, Northwest African American Museum
Interview by: Mark Oppenheim
Key Points:
- African American Museums tell the full American story. Freeman and DeBardelaben emphasize that Black history is not a side narrative—it is central to U.S. history. From the legacy of slavery to modern cultural innovation, African American contributions shaped the country’s foundation, growth, and identity.
- Oral traditions and cultural creativity preserve memory. African American culture has always thrived through oral storytelling, music, art, and improvisation. These living forms of memory-making often replace material artifacts lost or suppressed through generations of systemic oppression.
- Innovative programs meet people where they are. NAAM’s African American Cultural Ensemble uses music to bring museum content into communities. Meanwhile, the Lewis Museum invites interactivity through Afrofuturist exhibits, playlist curation, and spaces for young people to imagine future Black realities.
- Museums are conveners for difficult conversations. In the face of book bans and curricular censorship, Black museums hold space for factual, inclusive dialogue. They offer neutral ground for truth-telling and education, and equip children and adults alike to engage history with critical curiosity.
Other Points on African American History Museums:
Both leaders reject the notion that African American history is only relevant to Black communities. As Freeman puts it, “We are telling American history.” Museums like the Lewis Museum and NAAM are working to ensure that all people understand the full, complex story of this nation—starting with the facts.
Black museums are innovating amid constraints. Recognizing that physical artifacts have often been lost or destroyed, DeBardelaben leads youth animator programs that preserve and present stories through digital media. Freeman’s team builds spaces of creation and reflection, especially for younger audiences.
Despite challenges—such as efforts to suppress or distort Black history—these leaders remain resolute. Both institutions are redefining what a museum can be: not just a place for objects, but a living center of justice, creativity, and belonging.