Black Lives Matter

The American Museum fully subscribes to the joint statement from the Museums Association and the Association of Independent Museums in regard to the Black Lives Matter movement.

We are committed to positive change both within the museum sector and the wider community.

The American Museum was founded as an educational institution devoted to the cultural history of the United States. We understand that we have a responsibility to represent the full story of the American experience, which includes the contributions as well as the abusive treatment of African Americans, Native Americans, and other peoples of colour.

If you’re interested in finding out more about this subject, we have created a reading/resource list, below, aimed at educating ourselves and the wider community on aspects of American history that are not widely told.

Black Lives Matter.

Richard Wendorf, Director
​Gareth Thomas, Chairman

Reading/resource list

Books – Non-fiction

So You Want To Talk About Race, Ijeoma Oluo (2018)
How to Be an Antiracist, Ibram X. Kendi (2019)
White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism, Robin DiAngelo (2018)
Me and White Supremacy: How to Recognise Your Privilege, Combat Racism and Change the World, Layla F. Saad (2020)
How to Argue With a Racist: History, Science, Race and Reality, Adam Rutherford (2020)
Natives: Race and Class in the Ruins of Empire, Akala (2018)
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Maya Angelou (1969)
Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race, Reni Eddo-Lodge (2017)

Books – Fiction

Beloved, Toni Morrison (1987)
The Color Purple, Alice Walker (1982)
The Underground Railroad, Colson Whitehead (2016)
To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee (1960)
On Beauty, Zadie Smith (2005)
How to Love a Jamaican, Alexia Arthurs (2018)

Children’s Books – non fiction

Let’s Talk About Race, Julius Lester (2005)
A is for Activist, Innosanto Nagara (2012)
We’re Different, We’re the Same (Sesame Street), Bobbi Jane Kates (1992)
The Day You Begin, Jacqueline Woodson (2018)

Children’s Books – fiction

The Hate U Give, Angie Thomas (2017) – Young Adult

Online Resources

The great team at the National Museum of African American History and Culture (Smithsonian) has put together this online resource, providing tools and guidance for talking about race, whether you are an educator, a parent or caregiver, or just someone committed to equality.