African-American History Museum Celebrates Decade with Theater Exhibits Amid Political Attacks
The National Museum of African-American History and Culture is marking its tenth anniversary, highlighting theater-related objects from its collection of over 45,000 items. The museum is one of the Smithsonian institutions targeted by the current administration's ideological assault. The permanent exhibition 'Taking the Stage' features items like Lena Horne's 1947 photograph and showcases the Apollo Theater and Alvin Ailey.
The museum's permanent exhibition "Taking the Stage" anchors its theater holdings, featuring artifacts such as a 1947 photograph of Lena Horne alongside materials documenting the Apollo Theater's legacy and the Alvin Ailey dance company's photographic archive, which was recently made publicly accessible. The collection also preserves milestones like the 1921 Broadway premiere of Shuffle Along and Ntozake Shange's 1974 choreopoem, which introduced a hybrid theatrical form.
Beyond the stage, the museum's programming has connected performance to activism, highlighting figures like Harry Belafonte, who used entertainment as a platform for civil rights work alongside Martin Luther King Jr. The institution has also marked James Baldwin's centennial, linking his literary and theatrical influence to ongoing cultural conversations. These exhibits collectively represent a fraction of the museum's 45,000-object permanent collection.
This anniversary arrives amid political pressure on Smithsonian institutions, which may shape how cultural heritage is preserved and presented in coming years. The museum's theater exhibits could serve as a counterpoint to ideological narrowing, reinforcing the role of arts in documenting marginalized histories. Audiences and educators may find these collections increasingly valuable as reference points for discussions about representation, though access could be affected by broader institutional constraints.