Increasing Museum Capacities for Serving Non‐White Audiences

Abstract

This article surveys the history of the relationship between museums and communities of color in the United States, particularly those identifying as Black and African American. Studying the history of research of this topic in the Curator archive and other sources points to the paucity of studies that focus on this part of the population. The article illustrates the effect of these omissions and historical trends in a contemporary museum setting. Highlighting inclusive approaches and practices from the literature, the article offers solutions to the issues of representation and authority that have challenged many museums’ ability to embrace African American communities.

Keeping Voices in the Room: Values Clarification in Codesign for Equitable Science and Technology Education

“…We view joining engagement in museum co‐development as a process of civic engagement in sociotechnical issues. Developing long term relationships, working with partners from project conception are critical practices, and engaging in internal work to address this (AAM, 2018; Kampschulte & Hatcher, 2021; Martinez, 2020). Yet when these are not possible within project constraints, we do not believe projects can give up on listening and pursuing true partnerships.…”

“…Equity and participation must be about not just who , but how : not just getting more voices in the room, but involving them in meaningful ways, addressing how people want to engage with science, and attending to the social implications of science and technology (Filipovic, 2013). As Martinez (2020) points out, “Many museums were designed by White people for White audiences and were never intended to be spaces serving diverse audiences.” Therefore, achieving more equitable education requires recalibrating the intentions of those designing and implementing learning experiences in science museums.…”

“…However, not everyone goes to museums, and not everyone who goes feels welcome and interested (AAM, 2018; Bennett, 1994; Dawson, 2014; Kluge‐Pinsker & Stauffer, 2021). Museums have a history as trusted sources of knowledge, and yet also have a history of benefiting from and perpetuating social inequalities and colonial ideologies (Das & Lowe, 2018; Martinez, 2020).…”

Engaging Community Online: Black, Indigenous and People of Color and Museum Exhibitions

“…2 Historically, museums were created for white, middle-and upper-class people, and many were associated with objects that had been collected from communities who had not given permission for these objects to leave their home areas. Indeed, until recently, museums could be seen as places of colonialism and oppression that supported a blind acceptance of whiteness while ignoring non-white audiences (Martinez 2020). Museums were therefore built on a foundation of white supremacy that long helped fuel the subjugation of BIPOC through the theft and display of "foreign" artifacts.…”

“…The Hall was curated in 1960 and depicted a diorama of people in their environment, similar to how animals are shown. As of 2020, the exhibit still showcased the same tribal society of Africa, which included ceremonial dresses, tools and masks (Martinez 2020). Today, the exhibition is seen as outdated, lacking thought and creates a narrative of the culture and people of Africa as frozen in time (Martinez 2020).…”