Oral history interview with Marjorie Kinard

Marjorie Kinard talks about the founding of the Anacostia Neighborhood Museum (now Anacostia Community Museum) and what it was like to be married to its founding director, John Kinard. She describes the difficult environment in Washington DC as the museum was being developed because there was upheaval after a riot in Anacostia that year. She recalls the hope that the museum would serve as a place for the community to learn about their own neighborhood and become more aware of the Smithsonian Institution. She describes the challenges John Kinard faced within the community, like winning the faith and trust of the "silent infrastructure" and "silent leadership" among the residents. She talks about how the museum gave the community the opportunity to see themselves in a positive light, and how the exhibits were interactive, engaging, and targeted local issues. She states that the museum offered educational programming like sculpting, macrame, pottery, and drama. She describes the museum's relationship with the Smithsonian Institution as supportive, but she mentions some of the racism her husband managed like a lack of promotional opportunities for African Americans. She describes her husband as the first African American museum director in the country. She expresses her concern that contemporary African Americans may take for granted the opportunities they have within the Smithsonian Institution, recalling that there were not always executive roles, or even internships. She describes her husband as a fighter and innovator and feels that the museum's programs helped African Americans become interested in museology and created opportunities for them to work within the Smithsonian. She also talks about how the museum evolved from a little community museum for children and residents to a more global concept with exhibits that addressed a wider audience, like Black Women: Achievements Against the Odds, and Out of Africa, which focused on African American heritage and history. The interview was recorded on June 15, 1991. The audio quality is clear throughout the recording. Exhibition mentioned: The Rat: Man's Invited Affliction.