Black History Month | Smithsonian Institution

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Tryptic of three photographs: A woman on the left pushing a plow, a miner in the center, and a woman behind a desk on the right.

Celebrate Black History Month with Smithsonian events, resources, exhibitions, and podcasts. The 2025 theme is "African Americans and Labor" with a focus on the various and profound ways that work of all kinds intersects with the collective experiences of Black people.

Upcoming Events

History Resources

seven of the Little Rock Nine students

National Museum of African American History and Culture

African American History and Culture

A place to explore history and culture through an African American lens.

A. Philip Randolph painting

National Portrait Gallery

A. Philip Randolph

2025 marks the 100th anniversary of the creation of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters and Maids by Randolph.

Ten-cent dark brown Booker T. Washington single stamp.

National Postal Museum

The Black Experience

This virtual exhibition showcases the black experience in the United States through the lens of American postage stamps.

A quilted and appliqued textile portrait of Harriet Tubman.

Smithsonian American Women's History Museum

Black Women in History

From Harriet Tubman to Bessie Coleman, celebrate the many Black women who have shaped America.

Black & white photograph. African-American woman with hair to shoulders turned to her right with left hand crossed under right.

National Air and Space Museum

African Americans Take Flight

Learn about the impact African American and Black people from across the globe have had on air and space.

Photograph of Shirley Chisholm standing and facing crowd with hands showing peace signs at antiwar demonstration.

National Museum of African American History and Culture

Making A Way Out Of No Way

Visit the virtual exhibit that explores how African Americans crafted possibilities in a world that denied them opportunities.

School

Smithsonian Snapshot

A Path to Genealogical and Historical Discovery

Family historians and genealogists can search for their ancestors; scholars can research topics related to slavery and the era of Reconstruction.

Tuskegee Airman

National Museum of African American History and Culture

NMAAHC Collections

Explore historical artifacts, archival documents, and works of art in the museum's collections.

Arts and Culture Resources

Self-portrait of Loïs Mailou Jones

Smithsonian Collection Spotlight

African American Artists

Explore a selection of self-portraits and other works by Black artists in the Smithsonian's collections.

Photo of the three members of the band Run DMC.

National Museum of African American History and Culture

Musical Crossroads

Read stories of African American music from the arrival of the first Africans to the present day.

Technics Turntable, used by Grandmaster Flash.

Smithsonian Collection Spotlight

Hip-Hop and Rap

This Technics brand turntable was used by hip-hop pioneer Grandmaster Flash. Discover more hip-hop collection items.

Photograph of William P. Foster and members of the Florida A&M University Marching "100" in uniform around a bass drum.

National Museum of African American History and Culture

Musical Life at HBCUs

Explore the musical legacy of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in this "Collection Story."

Portrait of James Baldwin with a bright yellow background.

Smithsonian Collection Spotlight

James Baldwin at 100

Explore collections and events that honor the birthday of artist and activist James Baldwin.

Phillis Wheatley Engraving on paper

National Portrait Gallery

Phillis Wheatley Redrawn

In this Portraits podcast episode, Ashleigh Coren and writer Honorée Jeffers ask us to re-imagine Wheatley's life, drawn in poetry.

Sidedoor Podcast Episodes

Illustration of the face of Sojourner Truth with a piece missing from her face.

Sidedoor Podcast

The Whole Truth

Much of what we know about Sojourner Truth is fiction. Turns out, the whole Truth is even better than fiction.

Illustration of Beatrice Kenner

Sidedoor Podcast

The Many Inventions of Beatrice Kenner

Learn more about one of the most prolific African American inventors of the mid 20th century.

Illustration of a record with colors in the background.

Sidedoor Podcast

To Sweat Like Beyoncé

Collected, a podcast from the National Museum of American History, dives into the history of Black women in music.

illustration of the White House shown with enslaved construction workers

Sidedoor Podcast

Who Built the White House?

Historians take a years-long journey to determine who the enslaved African Americans were who built the White House.

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