Charleston City Paper: Luminaries, public laud opening of International African American Museum

The International African American Museum (IAAM) in Charleston, South Carolina, held a peaceful gathering attended by hundreds of people in two locations. Former Charleston Mayor Joseph P. Riley Jr., who championed the museum’s construction for 23 years, described it as a gift to the country and emphasized its significance in telling the often-neglected history of African Americans. The museum, overlooking the Cooper River, opens on Tuesday, with tickets already sold out. The dedication ceremony was attended by approximately 500 esteemed individuals and took place under the museum’s shade, situated above the historical location of Gadsden’s Wharf, which served as an entry point for nearly 40% of enslaved Africans who arrived in American settlements.

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