This episode of Nonprofit Report features leaders from two of the United States’ premier African American cultural institutions, as they share how their museums are redefining storytelling, social justice education, and community engagement through a modern lens.
Guests:
Neil Barclay, President, Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History (Detroit, Michigan)
Woodrow Keown Jr., President & CEO, National Underground Railroad Freedom Center (Cincinnati, Ohio)
Interview by: Mark Oppenheim
Key Points:
- These museums serve as cultural centers—blending history, art, and public programming.
- Storytelling is central to how audiences connect with underrepresented histories and cultures.
- Programs in museums help address structural racism, contemporary civil rights, and human trafficking.
- Engagement tools include interactive exhibits, augmented reality, and community events.
- Personal narratives help make issues like slavery, freedom, and equity more urgent and help communicate important stories.
- Economic impact studies help secure public and private funding to help these organizations continue their important work across the board.
- Collaborations with artists, educators, and corporations expand reach and sustainability as well as impact.
- Museums foster civic learning and engagement for audiences of all backgrounds.
Other Points on African American History Museums:
The Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History and the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center aren’t just preserving history—they’re advancing dialogue, justice, and inclusion through immersive public experiences. Both institutions challenge the idea that museums are static archives by actively connecting the past to today’s pressing social issues.
From voter rights exhibitions to James Baldwin retrospectives, the Wright uses context, technology, and performance to engage a wide range of audiences. It serves as a gathering place for community memory, public mourning, and cultural pride.
The Freedom Center links its historical mission to modern-day human rights work, including exhibitions on human trafficking and mass incarceration. By making these topics visible, personal, and actionable, it invites visitors to become allies in the ongoing march to freedom.
Despite funding challenges, these museums remain vital civic assets—supporting economic development, cultural understanding, and a more equitable future. They remind us that history is not past—it’s power, and it belongs to all of us.