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News and Updates

  • MCAAHC Legislative Agenda for the 2024 Maryland General Assembly

    The Maryland General Assembly will convene for the 2024 session today, January 10, 2024. Good luck to the legislators and staffers in Annapolis working to make our great state equitable for all. For #MDGA2024, the Maryland Commission on African American History and Culture (MCAAHC) has three items that will be on our agenda. Read more  Read…

  • Governor Moore Announces Project to Rebury Ancestral Human Remains of African Descent

    Maryland Commission on African American History andMaryland Historical Trust Partner on Project FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact  David Buck (Cell) 443.463.7139 david.buck@maryland.gov (November 20, 2023) CROWNSVILLE, MD – Governor Wes Moore today announced that the Maryland Commission on African American History and Culture (MCAAHC) and the Maryland Historical Trust have launched a project aimed at identifying lineal descendants or  Read…

  • “Banneker-Douglass-Tubman Museum” Name Change Bill Officially Signed by Governor Wes Moore

    For Immediate Release    April 11, 2024                 “Banneker-Douglass-Tubman Museum” Name Change Bill Officially Signed by Governor Wes Moore Annapolis, Maryland – On Tuesday, April 9, 2024, Governor Wes Moore signed bills HB390/ SB341 into law, actualizing a historic change in the name of Maryland’s official museum on  Read…

  • Ramadan Reflections: Preserving History and Humanity for Palestine

    By: Sabriyah Y. Hassan-IsmailDirector of Programs, Banneker-Douglass Museum The Banneker-Douglass Museum and the Maryland Commission on African American History and Culture present an essay written by Sabriyah Y. Hassan-Ismail, Director of Programs at BDM, whom we support in voicing her experience and opinion on the destruction of Palestinian heritage sites as a Muslim American and  Read…

  • Black Power Freedom Party Black History Month Kick Off & Honoring Black Maryland History Makers

    Kick off Black History Month with the Maryland Commission on African American History and Culture on Friday, February 2, 2024! Join us in a grand celebration as we pay homage to the radical Black history makers of Maryland who have fearlessly challenged the status quo and left a lasting mark on history, social justice, art,  Read…

  • Governor Moore Announces $5 Million in African American Heritage Preservation Grant Awards

    From The Office of Governor Wes MoorePublished: 1/19/2024 ANNAPOLIS, MD – Governor Wes Moore today announced that the Maryland Commission on African American History and Culture and the Maryland Historical Trust have awarded 24 African American Heritage Preservation Program grants totaling $5,000,000 to Maryland nonprofit groups for FY 2024. The grants will offer assistance to organizations  Read…

  • MCAAHC Launches Maryland’s Year of Civil Rights

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEOctober 23, 2023 Annapolis, MD – The Maryland Commission on African American History and Culture (MCAAHC) and Banneker-Douglass Museum are declaring 2024 as “Maryland’s Year of Civil Rights” with exciting and relevant programming, exhibitions, and partnerships. This Wednesday, October 25th, the commission will launch the initiative with guest speakers Gov. Wes Moore, First  Read…

  • New Chair and Vice Chair Announced by Maryland Commission on African American History and Culture

    The Maryland Commission on African American History and Culture Announce New Chair and Vice Chair FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE JULY 12, 2023 Annapolis, MD – The Maryland Commission on African American History and Culture (MCAAHC) is pleased to announce the newly elected leadership of Chair Dr. Edwin T. Johnson and Vice Chair Maya Davis effective July  Read…

  • Successful FY23 for Banneker-Douglass Museum Development

    As we near the close of the fiscal year, we are so excited to announce that we have exceeded our fundraising goal for FY23! Thank you to our supporters, including the We Rise Committee and those who attended our Juneteenth Donor Mixer on June 13th, who put us over the top for a grand total  Read…

  • Banneker-Douglass Museum Accepted to the NPS African American Civil Rights Network

    We are very excited to announce that the Banneker-Douglass Museum is now a part of the National Park Service (NPS) African American Civil Rights Network!  The African American Civil Rights Network seeks to tell the story of the men and women whose bravery and sacrifices shaped the movement throughout American history, and still impact our  Read…

  • The Banneker-Douglass Museum Celebrates Juneteenth with Engaging Events

    For Immediate Release May 30, 2023                         The Banneker-Douglass Museum Celebrates Juneteenth with Engaging Events Annapolis, MD – The Banneker-Douglass Museum will celebrate Juneteenth month with a host of engaging and exciting events. Continuing to carry out the mission of preserving Maryland’s African American  Read…

  • Governor Moore Announces Increased Funding for African American Heritage Preservation Program

    PRESS RELEASE Published: 4/13/2023 ​ Funding Increased to $5 Million to Fund Capital Projects Important to the African American Experience in Maryland ANNAPOLIS, MD – Governor Wes Moore today announced increased funding for the African American Heritage Preservation Program. Beginning in FY24, the program will have a new annual appropriation of $5 million, up from $1 million  Read…

  • Harriet Tubman Statue Vévé Returns to the Banneker-Douglass Museum

    For Immediate Release             February 8, 2023 Contact: Jan Lee, Director of Marketing and Communications jan.lee@maryland.gov / (410) 216-6185   Harriet Tubman Statue Vévé Returns to the Banneker-Douglass Museum Annapolis, MD – On January 25th, the vévé, or staff, of the monumental Harriet Tubman statue, Araminta with Rifle and Vévé (2017),  Read…

  • Banneker-Douglass Museum Saddened byTheft and Defacement of Monumental Statue of Harriet Tubman

    PRESS RELEASE For Immediate Release December 21, 2022 Contact: Jan LeeDirector of Marketing and Communicationsjan.lee@maryland.gov / (410) 216-6185  Banneker-Douglass Museum Saddened byTheft and Defacement of Monumental Statue of Harriet Tubman Annapolis, MD – On Saturday, December 17th, the Banneker-Douglass Museum suffered atheft and the defacement of the monumental statue of Harriet Tubman, Araminta with Rifle andVévé  Read…

  • Director’s Message – I wasn’t interested in school until…

    Dear Friends, When I think of why and how I became an executive director of a museum, I think of myself as a 15-year-old girl in high school. My high school was underfunded but had some of the best teachers, such as my art teacher, Ms. Malley. I wasn’t really interested in school until my art teacher began enrolling  Read…

  • Exhibition Opening Reception Recap

      The Radical Voice of Blackness Speaks of Resistance and Joy Exhibition Opening Reception Recap MEDIA ADVISORY  For Immediate Release November 14, 2022   Contact: Jan F. Lee, Director of Marketing and Communications /  jan.lee@maryland.gov / (410) 216-6185   Annapolis, MD – On last Thursday, November 10th, the Banneker-Douglass Museum in collaboration with guest curator Myrtis Bedolla of Galerie Myrtis  Read…

  • Opening Reception for Superlative Exhibit of 17 Maryland-Based Artists Exploring Themes of Black Resistance and Joy on November 10th

    The Radical Voice of Blackness Speaks of Resistance and Joy Presents Multidisciplinary Works of Art by Seventeen Critically-acclaimed Black Maryland-based Artists MEDIA ADVISORY  For Immediate Release November 7, 2022   Contact: Jan F. Lee, Director of Marketing and Communications /  jan.lee@maryland.gov / (410) 216-6185   Annapolis, MD – The Radical Voice of Blackness Speaks of Resistance  Read…

  • Araminta with Rifle and Vévé Coming to Banneker-Douglass Museum

    Monumental sculpture of Harriet Tubman by “Genius” Fellow Dr. Joyce J. Scott on display at Banneker-Douglass Museum starting September 1st For Immediate Release – August 1, 2022 Annapolis, MD – Come to the Banneker-Douglass Museum starting September 1st to stand in awe of the monumental sculpture, Araminta with Rifle and Vévé (2017), created by MacArthur “Genius”  Read…

  • From 1619 to Today Part III: Youth Mural Project & Book Giveaway was a Success

    On June 11, 2022, youth and community members came together for the culminating event, “From 1619 to Today Part III” to create a mural of Harriet Tubman in celebration of Tubman’s year-long 200th Birthday Celebration while incorporating themes from The 1619 Project by Nicole Hannah-Jones.  The mural concept was developed by Chanel Compton, artist and Executive Director  Read…