Maryland Commission on African American History & Culture

08/02/2026

Please join us tomorrow for the August p***c meeting!

Join the Maryland Commission on African American History & Culture for the August 2026 Public Meeting on Monday, August 3, 2026 at the Banneker-Douglass-Tubman Museum in Annapolis, MD. This meeting is hosted by Commissioner Rachelle Adams, representing Anne Arundel County. Public Meetings are a time to come together to share updates, discuss initiatives, and continue preserving and celebrating the Maryland African American heritage.

📅 Monday, August 3, 2026
🕚 11:00 AM
📍 Banneker-Douglass-Tubman Museum
84 Franklin Street, Annapolis, MD 21401

Register today: https://bit.ly/MCAAHCAugust2026PublicMeeting

⭐ About Commissioner Rachelle Adams
Commissioner Rachelle Adams, representing Anne Arundel County, was appointed to the MCAAHC in 2025 by Governor Wes Moore. Commissioner Adams is a dedicated Human Resources leader, business owner, and community advocate committed to equity, justice, and the preservation of African American history, with over 20 years of experience in HR, operations, and nonprofit management. She is a graduate of Capella University and owner of RMA Consultants, LLC., also serving as Director of Human Resources at Health Care for the Homeless, Inc. and as the second Vice President of the Alpha Zeta Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta. Passionate about social justice, Rachelle actively works to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion while preserving African American history through advocacy, education, and community engagement.

07/28/2026

https://www.wypr.org/wypr-news/2025-12-01/anne-arundels-historic-belvoir-manor-rooted-in-enslaved-lives-at-risk-of-being-lost

Landowner says they appreciate Belvoir’s historic significance and have no future plans for the property.

07/28/2026

07/21/2026

The Summer 2026 issue of The Pendulum, Maryland's Commission on African American History and Culture's quarterly "newszine." Check it out to find out about Commission work and Maryland's African American history and culture. This issue features an article on Maryland African American soldiers in the American Revolution. There is also a piece on the 50th Anniversary of the groundbreaking mini-series Roots by Alex Haley's nephew and Maryland State Archivist Chris Haley. Enjoy and share your feedback!

07/13/2026

📣 Statement from Executive Director Chanel C. Johnson

“But amidst the attacks were the profound artists, young people, educators, historians, descendants, HBCUs, and museums across Maryland and the country who did not back down. Those who continue to discover, document, and share Black history, art, and culture; creating new repositories, libraries, and community spaces. From the development of the AFRO Archives in Baltimore City, the opening of Freedman's State Park in Montgomery County to the reopening of The Studio Museum in Harlem and the grand opening of The Barack Obama Presidential Center in Chicago, these accomplishments are not a reaction to a political moment. This work is rooted in the education and empowerment of today's and future generations.” - BDTM Executive Director Chanel C. Johnson

During the 250th anniversary of this nation's founding, Maryland Commission on African American History & Culture and Banneker-Douglass-Tubman Museum Executive Director Chanel C. Johnson reflects on the contributions and necessity of preservation institutions, their importance to the identity of this country, and their paramount existence to the country's future.

and the celebrate the opening of the Obama Presidential Center (Obama Foundation), which opened on June 18th ahead of Juneteenth 2026. We congratulate former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama on a monumental contribution to the Chicago community, the nation, and the world!

Read Executive Director Johnson’s full statement “My Reflections on America 250” here:
https://bdmuseum.maryland.gov/2026/07/07/reflections-on-america-250-statement/

06/15/2026

This is the final week of the MCAAHC Statewide Book Drive! 📚

Now in its third year, the Maryland Commission on African American History & Culture (MCAAHC) invites Marylanders to contribute to a statewide book drive. Donations of new or gently used books that align with the MCAAHC mission are welcomed at designated collection sites across the state through Juneteenth Weekend 2026. The MCAAHC remains committed to serving as a voice and venue against marginalization, false narratives, book banning, and other systemic practices that suppress, distort, or misrepresent the history of African Americans in Maryland.

📖 How to Donate: Please contact your respective local public library staff for more information regarding donation sites near you. You can also host a book drive and giveaway within your own community!

📖 Learn more: https://africanamerican.maryland.gov/book-drive/

06/15/2026

The deadline is approaching to apply for the FY27 African American Heritage Preservation Program grant! All applications need to be in by 11:59 PM on July 1, 2026.
AAHPP provides grants to assist in preserving buildings, sites, or communities that are of historical and cultural importance to the African American experience in Maryland. It is administered as a partnership between MHT and the Maryland Commission on African American History and Culture.
For more information and application materials, visit the program webpage at bit.ly/AAHPP-MHT. Or you can watch the most recent AAHPP webinar recording at youtu.be/iHEX0R-Iy24
Graphic: Mt. Zion Memorial Church, Princess Anne (FY23 AAHPP Awardee)

06/01/2026

Time is running out! The Maryland Commission on African American History & Culture's statewide book drive is entering its final weeks, and we need your help to make a lasting impact.

Now in its third year, this initiative seeks new and gently used books that reflect, preserve, and celebrate African American history, culture, and experiences. Your donation helps ensure that future generations have access to stories and perspectives that educate, inspire, and empower.

At a time when book bans, misinformation, and the erasure of history continue to challenge our communities, every book donated becomes a powerful tool for truth, learning, and understanding.

Join Marylanders across the state in supporting this important effort before it ends Juneteenth weekend. Visit a designated collection site near you and donate today.

For more information, including collection site locations, visit
https://africanamerican.maryland.gov/book-drive/