MNHS Joins Minnesota's Black Communities to Capture 'History Is Now'

Hallie Q. Brown Community Center, the Minnesota African American Heritage Museum and Gallery and MNHS have launched a new collecting effort aimed at documenting how Black Minnesotans are grappling with anti-racism uprisings in Minnesota and beyond.

"We are, quite literally, living a chapter in a future history class textbook,” said the Hallie Q. Brown Community Center. “The anti-racism uprisings, demonstrations, and greater awakening of the broader society to systemic racism and white supremacy is a culmination of the 400-year Black experience in America. Through it all, we endure."

Everyone is invited to contribute experiences and share images and videos through an online form. Submissions will be shared among the three partner organizations so that the collecting effort can be housed within the community from where the voices come. Some of the submissions may be added to the MNHS collections.

“This is an important project that will collect stories from the Black community which will reflect our perspectives and allow our voices to be heard,” said Tina Burnside, cofounder and curator at the Minnesota African American Heritage Museum and Gallery.

The hope is that the outpouring of anger, pain, truth, and community will lead to more meaningful conversation with community, increased self-reflection and awareness, purposeful action, and a more empathetic society.

This effort is part of “History Is Now,” a way for people to express and share their experiences as history is happening. In addition to the anti-racism uprising effort, “History Is Now” includes a COVID-19 collecting effort and blog, an interactive outdoor art display called “History at Heart,” and a family time capsule project. Visit http://www.mnhs.org/historyisnow for more information.

About Hallie Q. Brown Community Center

The mission of Hallie Q. Brown is to improve the quality of life in our community by providing access to critical human services, fostering and promoting personal growth, and developing community leadership. Visit http://www.hallieqbrown.org.

About the Minnesota African American Heritage Museum and Gallery

The purpose of the Minnesota African American Heritage Museum and Gallery is to preserve, record and highlight the achievements, contributions and experiences of African Americans in Minnesota through exhibits, workshops and events that educate and inform the public. Visit http://www.maahmg.org

About the Minnesota Historical Society

The Minnesota Historical Society is a nonprofit educational and cultural institution established in 1849. MNHS collects, preserves and tells the story of Minnesota’s past through museum exhibits, libraries and collections, historic sites, educational programs and publishing. Using the power of history to transform lives, MNHS preserves our past, shares our state’s stories and connects people with history. Visit us at mnhs.org.