An African American woman’s Sunday hat is her crowning glory—it announces to the world that here is a beautiful, sophisticated, confident person. But Sunday is just one day of the week, and her Sunday hat is just one of the many “hats” she wears. It takes an extraordinary woman to wear all of these hats—professional, […]
Based off the AAMI’s 2012 temporary exhibit of the same name, “The Only One” explores the experiences of Iowans who were the only African American on a sports team, in a classroom, at work, and in other situations. Learn about Alexander Clark, who integrated Iowa schools in 1868 when his daughter Susan enrolled in Muscatine […]
Discover the proud history of African American service people in the United States military from the Revolutionary War to the present. Topics include African American Iowans in the Civil War, the Buffalo Soldiers, the Tuskegee Airmen of World War II, desegregation of the armed forces, and many more. About the Series: Join us at the […]
Visit Buxton, a bustling mining town at the turn of the last century. This important place in Iowa’s history was referred to as a “utopia” by the majority of the town’s residents, African Americans who were welcomed with little racism and discrimination. Step into the YMCAs, visit the elementary schools, and meet some of Buxton’s […]
Iowa’s athletes have long impacted their teams, communities, and the sports they played, but African Americans did so while facing off against more than just the opposing team. They fought for the right to equal treatment on and off the field. Highlighting people such as Iowan and Olympian Thomas Hill, Drake University athlete Johnny Bright […]
This presentation explores African Americans who invented or improved dozens of items we take for granted every day. Many of these men and women are little-known, and few are household names. Some had very little formal education or training, yet others were college-educated or earned doctorates. All made important contributions to our lives through perseverance, […]
About the Series: Join us at the Museum for free monthly presentations by Sean Donaldson, Museum Educator. These one-hour presentations will focus on a variety of topics ranging from broad African American history and the evolution of African american music, to Iowa's African Americans in sports and African American holiday traditions. With twelve opportunities to […]
About the Series: Join us at the Museum for free monthly presentations by Sean Donaldson, Museum Educator. These one-hour presentations will focus on a variety of topics ranging from broad African American history and the evolution of African american music, to Iowa's African Americans in sports and African American holiday traditions. With twelve opportunities to […]
Celebrate National Novel Writing Month with the AAMI as we examine the history and evolution of African American literature from the 18th century to the present – from autobiographical slave narratives to the creative explosion of the Harlem Renaissance and from the Black Arts Movement to modern-day authors, poets, and playwrights. About the Series: Join […]
About the Series: Join us at the Museum for free monthly presentations by Sean Donaldson, Museum Educator. These one-hour presentations will focus on a variety of topics ranging from broad African American history and the evolution of African american music, to Iowa's African Americans in sports and African American holiday traditions. With twelve opportunities to […]
