John Robert Lewis, We Need an African-American Museum on the Mall
“ One of the greatest periods in America's cultural history was the Harlem renaissance. Writers, artists, poets, and photographers like Langston Hughes, James Van Der Zee, Countee Cullen, and Aaron Douglas were all part of the renaissance. More recently, the civil rights movement changed the face of this country and inspired movements toward democracy and justice all over the world. There is much, much more--and it must be told to all Americans. Until we understand the African American story in its fullness and complexity, we cannot understand ourselves as a Nation. ”
