The Archives

Who Was Benjamin Thomas? The 16-Year-Old Alexandria Is Still Remembering MompreneurMal
Who Was Benjamin Thomas? The 16-Year-Old Alexandria Is Still Remembering
Benjamin Thomas was only 16 years old when a white mob took his life in Alexandria, Virginia, in 1899. More than a century later, his name is still being remembered.... Read more...
Why Black History Is Still Being Written MompreneurMal
Why Black History Is Still Being Written
Black history is often treated like something finished—locked inside textbooks, museums, and old photographs. But history is still unfolding in Black families, neighborhoods, businesses, classrooms, culture, and everyday life. The... Read more...
Gary Went Dark. Why Did It Take So Long for America to Pay Attention? MompreneurMal
Gary Went Dark. Why Did It Take So Long for America to Pay Attention?
After a devastating August storm knocked out power across Northwest Indiana, Gary remained in the dark long after much of the region began recovering. For thousands of residents, the outage... Read more...
Why Afrocentric Streetwear Is a Cultural Statement MompreneurMal
Why Afrocentric Streetwear Is a Cultural Statement
Afrocentric streetwear is more than fashion—it’s culture, identity, history, creativity, and self-expression worn in plain sight. Explore how Black communities have shaped style across generations, why cultural influence matters, and... Read more...
Celebrating Juneteenth: More Than Just a Date MompreneurMal
Celebrating Juneteenth: More Than Just a Date
Juneteenth is more than a date on the calendar. Explore the history of June 19, 1865, the journey from emancipation to freedom, and why Juneteenth remains a powerful celebration of... Read more...
The Power of “History Explains the Present” Apparel MompreneurMal
The Power of “History Explains the Present” Apparel
History doesn’t disappear when the moment passes—it leaves fingerprints on the world we live in today. From the laws that shaped Black freedom and opportunity to the movements, communities, and... Read more...
THE TREES REMEMBER: Why History Changes the Questions We Ask MompreneurMal
THE TREES REMEMBER: Why History Changes the Questions We Ask
Some images in American history are not neutral. The tree, the rope, and the noose carry a history of racial terror that did not disappear when public lynchings declined. The... Read more...
Your DNA Doesn’t Know Your Race: What Genetics Actually Says About Human Difference MompreneurMal
Your DNA Doesn’t Know Your Race: What Genetics Actually Says About Human Difference
Does your DNA know your race? The science tells a much more complex story. Explore the difference between race and ancestry, Africa’s extraordinary genetic diversity, human migration, and what our... Read more...
What Is the Racial Wealth Gap? | History Explains the Present MompreneurMal
What Is the Racial Wealth Gap? | History Explains the Present
Gallery 008 — Understanding the Numbers Reading Time: 8 minutes Series: History Explains the Present Theme: Wealth • Opportunity • Economics • History "The wealth gap didn't appear overnight. It... Read more...
What Is Generational Wealth? | History Explains the Present MompreneurMal
What Is Generational Wealth? | History Explains the Present
Discover what generational wealth really means, how it grows over time, and why history plays such an important role in who has the opportunity to build it. Read more...
The GI Bill: Opportunity for Some, Barriers for Others | History Explains the Present MompreneurMal
The GI Bill: Opportunity for Some, Barriers for Others | History Explains the Present
Learn how the GI Bill transformed America after World War II, why many Black veterans faced barriers to its benefits, and how those decisions continue to shape wealth and opportunity... Read more...
Why Does Homeownership Matter? | History Explains the Present MompreneurMal
Why Does Homeownership Matter? | History Explains the Present
Discover why homeownership has been one of the most powerful tools for building generational wealth in America—and why unequal access still shapes communities today. Read more...
What Was Redlining? How One Policy Still Shapes America Today MompreneurMal
What Was Redlining? How One Policy Still Shapes America Today
Gallery 004 — When a Map Decided Your Future Reading Time: 8 minutesSeries: History Explains the PresentTheme: Housing • Wealth • Opportunity "The map didn't predict the future. It helped... Read more...
Gallery 003: Jim Crow — When "Separate" Was Never Equal MompreneurMal
Gallery 003: Jim Crow — When "Separate" Was Never Equal
What were Jim Crow laws, and how did they shape everyday life in America? Explore the history of legalized segregation, the doctrine of "separate but equal," and the generations of... Read more...
Black Codes: How Freedom Came With Fine Print After Emancipation MompreneurMal
Black Codes: How Freedom Came With Fine Print After Emancipation
What happened after slavery ended? The Black Codes were among the first laws enacted after emancipation, restricting the rights and freedoms of newly freed African Americans. Explore how these Reconstruction-era... Read more...
Why History Explains the Present MompreneurMal
Why History Explains the Present
History Explains the Present is a museum-inspired educational series exploring how historical events, public policy, and community experiences continue to shape life in America today. Discover the historical context behind... Read more...
What Was Urban Renewal? MompreneurMal
What Was Urban Renewal?
Discover how Urban Renewal reshaped American cities and why many Black communities called it "Negro Removal." Explore the history behind displaced neighborhoods, lost businesses, and interrupted generational wealth through historical... Read more...