Entrance to Lens exhibition with exhibition title on right side of the wall and images along both sides of the entrance.
Past Special

Through the African American Lens

Explore Selections from the Permanent Collection

On view from May 2015-October 2017, Through the African American Lens demonstrated how the African American story is quintessentially an American one of determination, faith, perseverance, pride, and resilience.

The exhibition featured some of the more than 33,000 artifacts that have been collected by the Museum since its creation in 2003. Through the African American Lens is the Museum’s eighth exhibition and is on display at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History.The exhibition’s three sections—history, culture, and community—reflect the thematic strands of the new museum.

Exhibition Experience

History

Learn about families and individuals who achieved success under difficult circumstances.

Community

Examine how African Americans improved their circumstances – and continue to – through formal and informal institutions that served as beacons of hope, strength, and support.

Culture

Celebrate the bountiful creative expressions – from literature, theatre, music, and visual art, and dance – that have influenced society.

Through the African American Lens is made possible in large part by the many individuals who have generously donated artifacts, which now constitute the building blocks of the Museum. Covering topics such as education, military service, popular culture, religion, sports, and visual arts, these artifacts demonstrate how the African American story is quintessentially an American one of determination, faith, perseverance, pride, and resilience. The exhibition’s three sections—history, culture, and community—reflect the thematic strands of the new museum.

I, too, am America. Langston Hughes American poet, novelist, and playwright

Explore All Exhibition Objects

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The taper holder is a silver plated piece with three hallmarks or maker's marks pressed into the rim of the saucer/dish base. The center of the dish curves upward to support two curved parabolic prongs which curve out and up before meeting again at the top of the piece where they support a small metal cylinder with a circle cut in its center. A spool of candle wax wound on a thin metal rod with an oval handle is parallel to the base; the wax taper is threaded through the round metal piece at the top.
Wax Jack owned by the Dennis Family
The desk is of the "Triumph" model made by A. H. Andrews & Co. in Chicago, Illinois and is made of iron and hardwood. The back of each desk provides the writing surface for the desk behind.
Desks from the Hope Rosenwald School
Mini-length shift dress made of small (1/4-inch) interlocking silver metal octagonal discs. The dress is sleeveless, with a deep v-neck front bodice. The back bodice is open, with one (1) straight 2-inch strap running horizontally across the mid-back above a triangular cut-out.
Dresses worn by En Vogue in “My Lovin’ (You’re Never Gonna Get It)” video
A small, leather bond notebook. Written on the inside cover: [George T. Garrison/1st Lieut . & .A.R.L.M./55th Reg't Mass. Vol./Folly Island, S. C.,/Feb. 11th, 1864.]
Notebook of lists and accounts made by George T. Garrison
A Hammond B-3 electric organ. The organ is covered in black vinyl and trimmed with silver roping. Stitched on the back of the organ in red vinyl and brass colored metal rivets is "God ~ father." The organ has two keyboards with both preset and manual keys, a folding top and a single foot pedal. Electrical outlets are on the back of the organ at its base.
Hammond B-3 organ owned by James Brown
A wooden Wilson brand tennis racket with cover used by Althea Gibson. The tennis racket is red and white with a black rubber tape at handle. Painted type near head of racket appears on both sides of the racket and reads “PROFESSIONAL MODEL / APOLLO. Black type on top of racket's head reads “7 PLY.” The racket has white synthetic strings.
Tennis racket used by Althea Gibson