What a Dream Can Do: Building a Collection, Preserving a Legacy

Discover the most significant museum collection chronicling African American life, history, and culture, revealing centuries of creativity, resistance, determination, and joy.

At the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture’s dedication ceremony in 2016, civil rights activist and venerated congressman John Lewis proclaimed, “Oh, say! What a dream can do!” This volume, published to celebrate the Museum’s tenth anniversary, captures that vision through stories told by those collecting and caring for the objects. From the historically profound, such as the miraculous recovery and resurrection of a WWII–era plane used to train Tuskegee Airmen; to the searingly poignant personal keepsakes belonging to the famed abolitionist Harriet Tubman, whose family carefully preserved them for generations.

The breadth of the collection is extraordinary, spanning visual art, photography, film, and historical artifacts from the seventeenth century to the present. Each object carries its own story and distinctive journey, reflecting the collaboration, care, and commitment required to bring this national museum to life. Other incredible highlights include the Johnson Publishing Company’s famed Ebony Test Kitchen, Chuck Berry’s red Cadillac, and Radio Raheem’s iconic boombox from Spike Lee’s 1989 film Do the Right Thing.

These powerful stories of community, connection, resilience, and remembrance reflect the nation’s story and demonstrate, in enduring and profound ways, what a dream can do.

Lonnie G. Bunch III is the 14th Secretary of the Smithsonian. Michelle Commander is Deputy Director at NMAAHC. Michèle Gates Moresi is assistant director for collections at NMAAHC. Douglas Remley is senior editor/publications manager at NMAAHC. Mary Elliott, Ariana Curtis, Dwan Reece, and Paul Gardullo are curators at NMAAHC.