Teen Vogue: Inside the International African American Museum, 20 Years in the Making

The International African American Museum (IAAM) in Charleston, South Carolina, holds great significance for those seeking to uncover their ancestral roots and understand the deep history of the slave trade. Located at the Gadsden’s Wharf seaport, where over 100,000 enslaved Africans were brought to the United States, the museum sheds light on the African American journey. Through its galleries, documentaries, and digital research, IAAM aims to share the untold stories and achievements of the African Diaspora. The site at Gadsden’s Wharf, which also serves as a memorial, invites visitors to explore the history and archaeology of the area. The museum, which opened to the public in June 2023, has been a long-term project since 2000, with former Mayor Joseph P. Riley Jr. advocating for its establishment. With a strong focus on education and research, IAAM includes a genealogy center for visitors to delve into their family heritage. In an interview, Dr. Tonya M. Matthews, the president and CEO of IAAM, and Dr. Shelley Murphy, the coordinator of genealogy education, discussed the museum’s significance and the importance of understanding one’s history.

Read More