Category: Community

We Are Resolute This New Year

We Are Resolute This New Year By: Marco A. Corona, Chief Development Officer of the International African American Museum January 1. This date means so much to us. All of us. This is the day we promise ourselves that we will grow. That we will be better. It is the day we are hopeful and […]

Watchman, watchman please tell me the hour of the night!

Watchman, watchman please tell me the hour of the night! By: Dr. Tonya M. Matthews, president and CEO of the International African American Museum I wish you well for Watch Night 2021. On September 22, 1862, President Abraham Lincoln issued an executive order declaring enslaved people in rebelling Confederate States legally free. However, that order […]

IAAM Announces School Supply Drive Supporting CCSD Teachers

Today, the International African American Museum (IAAM) announced the launch of their inaugural school supply drive in partnership with Teachers’ Supply Closet, an organization providing free resources for teachers in the Charleston, Berkeley, and Dorchester counties of South Carolina. Teachers’ Supply Closet’s mission is to serve children in the Tri-County areas in meeting their educational […]

Bank of America Doubles Support to IAAM for Programming and Operations

Charleston, SC — Today, the International African American Museum announced a new gift from Bank of America, bringing its total investment in the museum to more than $1,000,000. This most recent gift builds on a 2018 gift of $500,000 to the museum’s capital campaign.  The additional $500,000 grant will be used to support development of […]

Pay Attention: Imagery Has Always Had Influence

Pay Attention: Imagery Has Always Had Influence The Weaponization of the African Image and a Modern Attempt to Reclaim By: Dr. Tonya M. Matthews, president and CEO of the International African American Museum This is a good time to pay attention. Interesting conversations are happening. We are being reminded that imagery has held power long […]

On That Verdict: An Open Letter to Aggressive Hopers

Guilty. That single word is an entire sentence. Descriptors are unnecessary here in Charleston, there in Minneapolis, back home in D.C. In fact, the entire world was hovering outside those court steps on April 20th and all were there when Derek Chauvin was found guilty of the murder of George Floyd on all counts. I […]

Museum Joins African American Cemetery Restoration Project

On Saturday, April 17th, volunteers and staff from the International African American Museum (IAAM) participated in the African American Cemeteries Restoration project at Morris Street Baptist Church Cemetery. This initiative was announced on Saturday, March 13th at a press conference led by the Office of the Mayor, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints […]

Museum Board To Meet on Friday, April 23rd

The Board of Directors of the International African American Museum will meet on Friday, April 23, 2021 at 2:00 pm. The meeting will be held video conference due to the “stay at home” mandate as a result of the COVID-19 virus. Agenda is still to be determined but will be posted on the museum’s website […]

IAAM names Dr. Tonya M. Matthews, <br> national leader in African-American History <br> and STEM education, as new CEO

The International African American Museum names Dr. Tonya M. Matthews, national leader in African American history and STEM education, as new CEO CHARLESTON, S.C. —The International African American Museum has found the final piece for the massive global project that will change the landscape of African American history and its curation. Seventeen months after breaking ground […]