Smithsonian NMAAHC Launches Talking About Race Portal

The Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) in Washington, D.C., has launched a web portal called Talking About Race to help people discuss racism and racial identity. The museum, designed by architect David Adjaye and opened in 2016, spans over 37,000 square meters along the National Mall. The portal offers digital tools, online exercises, videos, academic articles, and over 100 multimedia resources for teachers, parents, and racial equality advocates. It is the result of years of work by museum educators, drawing on history, psychology, and human development. The launch was moved forward due to ongoing protests across the U.S. following the death of George Floyd on May 25, 2020, in Minneapolis. Spencer Crew, interim director of NMAAHC, stated that since the museum opened, the most common question has been how to talk about race, especially with children. He emphasized the need to confront difficult topics to heal from the legacy of slavery. The portal is free and requires no registration.