Association of African American Museums

AAAM logo

Association of African American Museums

The Association of African American Museums (AAAM) is a nonprofit organization, established in the late 1970s as the sole representative and voice of the African American 'Museums Movement. The association serves as a conduit for bringing institutions and others together who highlight the different perspectives and stories of the American Civil Rights Movement Not only does its membership, an amalgam of museums, museum professionals, institutions, and individuals, cover African American history and culture, but also those of African-descended communities around the world.The AAAM’s origins can be traced to the Black Museum and Black Power Movements of the 1960s. In fact, several early Black Museum founders and leaders with ties to the Black Power Movement were instrumental in the creation of the AAAM. Dr. Margaret Burroughs, of Chicago’s Du Sable Museum of African American History, led efforts to organize the AAAM. Dr. Charles Wright, namesake of the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History (formerly the International Afro-American Museum) in Detroit, and Dr. John Kinnard, of the Anacostia Neighborhood Museum in Washington, D.C., provided support to African American museums. The primary focus of Black Museums as well as the AAAM was challenging the misrepresentation and miseducation of African/African American studies in schools and other public media. Each founder saw the need for other African American museums across the country to have resources and opportunities to grow their institutions. In furtherance of its mission and its founders’ vision, the AAAM also provides its members with professional development and networking opportunities, including but not limited to trainings, technical assistance, annual conferences, and fundraising counseling.

Through these efforts, the AAAM and its members use the lessons of the Civil Rights Movement to inform discussions about African American contributions to American history and shape modern day efforts toward greater equality and social justice.

The Association of African American Museums is based in Washington, D.C., and was added to the African American Civil Rights Network in June 2021.

The African American Civil Rights Network recognizes the civil rights movement in the United States and the sacrifices made by those who fought against discrimination and segregation. Created by the African American Civil Rights Act of 2017, and coordinated by the 'National Park Service, the Network tells the stories of the people, places, and events of the U.S. civil rights movement through a collection of public and private elements.