Six of the best: Ways to

Black history in the USA

Globe hopping Six of the best... / 19

To mark Black History Month in October, Jessica Pook rounds up some unmissable attractions across the U.S. that chart key historic moments and achievements

Harriet Tubman Anniversary

This year marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of Harriet Tubman, who escaped slavery and lead over 300 others along the Underground Railroad to freedom. To commemorate the anniversary, Maryland will host celebrations throughout the year. Visitors can also travel the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Scenic Byway on Maryland’s Eastern Shore to learn more about Tubman’s early life.

Historic National Mall

The National Mall in Washington DC has been the site for key moments in US history, including the March on Washington in 1963 when Dr Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his iconic ‘I Have a Dream Speech’ on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. A short walk away is the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture housing artifacts including Harriet Tubman’s shawl and music legend Chuck Berry’s Cadillac.

African American Music

Opened in 2021, the National Museum of African American Music is the first of its kind in the U.S. Located in the Fifth + Broadway development in Nashville, the museum is dedicated to preserving and celebrating music genres created and inspired by African Americans. Interactive technology brings over 50 genres to life, paying tribute to musical talents throughout the years.

Civil Rights Trail

Spanning 14 states, the U.S. Civil Rights Trail is a collection of churches, courthouses, schools, museums, and other landmarks where activists challenged segregation laws in the 1950s and 1960s to advance social justice. The trail features six landmarks in Washington DC and three in Virginia, including the Virginia Civil Rights Memorial and the newly added Danville Fine Arts and History Museum.

Black Music Festival

Taking place in Downtown Pittsburgh, the Pittsburgh Black Music Festival is held every year in July. Across the four-day event, visitors can enjoy a variety of music from Funk, Blues and Soul to Jazz, Hip Hop and RnB. Pittsburgh also hosts an annual Barrel & Flow Fest, the first Black arts and craft beer festival in the country, which shines a light on Black-owned breweries, artists and small businesses.

African American Museum

Due to open in January 21, 2023, after 20 years of planning, is The International African American Museum (IAAM) in South Carolina. It is built upon the former site of Gadsden’s Wharf – once one of the nation’s most prolific slave trading ports. The museum will tell the untold story of the African American journey and will also feature a genealogy research library offering the chance to trace family roots.