American Writers Museum

The American Writers Museum will develop an on-site and online exhibit and related programs for students. The exhibit, Dark Testament: Black Writers on Racial Justice, Past and Present, will focus on American history from the end of the Civil War to the end of the civil rights era, and will feature conversations with leading Black contemporary writers about writers of the past who inspire them. The museum will develop related curricula and activities for middle and high school students whose teachers can use the online resources to supplement classroom instruction. The museum also will implement a targeted marketing strategy to promote the exhibit to schools nationwide, especially in underserved communities. This project addresses two challenges exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, the need for continued examination of racial injustice and the need for engaging online resources for middle and high school students that compliment classroom curricula and encourage meaningful dialogue.