February 6, 2026 Newsletter

Letter From Executive Director Chanel C. Johnson

For Black Women, Mamas, & Aunties

As a young Black girl artist, my first art patron was my mother, Lisa Turner. As a single mom of three, she strived to build my confidence by giving me affirmations, "You can do anything, Chanel", while carefully hanging my drawings and paintings on the fridge door. You could say that at six years old, this was my first museum exhibition. The women in my family represent generations of Black women who raised children, they marched through and survived Jim Crow, sexism, and trauma. The women in my family are strong, complicated, and marvelous.  

Throughout my girlhood, my mom, aunt Tracey, and grandmother “Grammy” bought me art supplies and books that featured amazing Black women such as Harriet Tubman in "Follow the Drinking Gourd" by Jeanette Winter and “Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters" by John Steptoe. 

When I didn’t see myself in school books, my family instilled in me that Black history is incredible and should be respected and honored. 

But when we learn about American history, typically sidelined are the stories of Black aunties, mamas, and women elders who built this country, who shaped democracy, healed broken bodies and minds, and set roofs on fire with their love, work, and genius. 

As our nation commemorates the 100th anniversary of Black History Month and America 250, we reexamine this history with the exhibit “She Speaks: Black Women Artists and the Power of Historical Memory”. Seventeen extraordinary artists and profound archives from Maryland and beyond are on view until January 2027. Works range from Faith Ringgold's "Declaration of Freedom and Independence" series that confront America's founding documents to Noreen Justis Smith's futuristic collages of intergalactic worlds that address spirituality, gender, and race. 

She Speaks shares how Black women, within their diverse identities, have always been the nation's historians, archivists, and truth-tellers; working for greater freedom, often without recognition. 

I invite you to experience this powerful exhibition and reflect on the stories of Black women in your life or in history who have also inspired you and shaped your journey. 

With love and gratitude, 

Chanel C. Johnson

Executive Director

Meet BDTM's Maryland 250 Fellow, Morgan White 

Morgan White was selected as the Banneker-Douglass-Tubman Museum's Maryland 250 Fellow to support the new exhibition, She Speaks: Black Women Artists and the Power of Historical Memory, which runs from February 7, 2026, through January 16, 2027.

White, a Washington, D.C. native, is a 2025 graduate of North Carolina Central University, where she earned a bachelor's degree in history. She plans to pursue a master's and a doctoral degree in public history. Her background includes experience in preservation, archival research, and oral history & research. 

The Fellow will support this exhibition by creating vertical social media content, conducting research, and collaborating with the Collections and Exhibitions Department in support of 'She Speaks'. Congratulations! Welcome Morgan!

The Maryland 250 Fellowship is made possible through funding from a grant by the Maryland 250 Commission.

Event at Capacity! | She Speaks: Black Women Artists and the Power of Historical Memory



In celebration of Black History Month and recognizing the 250th Anniversary of America, we invite you to view our newest exhibition, “She Speaks: Black Women Artists and the Power of Historical Memory”–a visionary presentation that examines the 250-year history of the United States of America through a Black Feminist lens. This exhibition brings together a powerful constellation of contemporary Maryland-based and internationally recognized Black women artists whose deeply personal and politically charged works bear witness to the past, illuminate its impact on the present, and conjure Afrofuturist visions.

She Speaks will open to the public with an Opening Reception and Black History Month celebration on Saturday, February 7, 2026. The opening reception will feature guided mini tours, artist and curator reflections, a guided artistic activity, food, and music.

This exhibition highlights the pivotal role Black women have played in shaping and preserving this nation since the Revolutionary era, while envisioning liberated futures through cosmic speculation.

Featured artists include: Elizabeth Catlett, Alanna Fields, Dr. Joan M.E. Gaither, Charlyn Griffith-Oro, Khaleelah I. L. Harris, Martha Jackson Jarvis, Fabiola Jean-Louis, Jeannine Kayembe-Oro, Ada Pinkston, Beverly Price, Faith Ringgold, Noreen Smith, Darlene R. Taylor, Zsudayka Nzinga, Jessica Valoris, Savannah G.M. Wood, and Alisha B. Wormsley.

Lending institutions for this exhibition include: Academy Art Museum, Galerie Myrtis, Howard University Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., James E. Lewis Museum of Art, and Reginald F. Lewis Museum.

Location: Banneker-Douglass-Tubman Museum, 84 Franklin St, Annapolis, MD 21401

Date: Saturday, February 7, 2026

Time: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Thank you for your interest and for registering for the ‘She Speaks’ Opening Reception. This event is at capacity! We look forward to seeing you.

Celebrating the Late Ted Mack’s Birthday and Legacy

Happy birthday to the Late Ted Mack! As Former Chairman of the Maryland Commission on African American History and Culture, Ted helped secure the $1 million African American Preservation Grant Program (AAHPP), expanding representation across the state and preserving vital historic sites and stories.

A decorated military veteran with 35 years of service, he retired as a Chief Warrant Officer 4 and became the first active-duty officer inducted into the Military Intelligence Hall of Fame.

In 2022, Ted was named the first African American recipient of the Calvert Prize, Maryland’s highest honor for historic preservation. Today, the Ted Mack Museum Visionary Fund supports exhibits and programs at the Banneker-Douglass-Tubman Museum, ensuring his work and vision continue.

Your donation helps preserve, protect, and share African American history in Maryland. Give today to carry Ted’s lifelong mission forward for generations to come.

Congratulations to the FY 26 AAHPP Recipients!

The Maryland Commission on African American History and Culture (MCAAHC), in partnership with Maryland Historical Trust (MHT), announces the listed sites as the 29 recipients of the African American Heritage Preservation program (AAHPP) grant for Fiscal Year 2026.

Congratulations to the FY26 Awardees for your selection and for your work in preserving Maryland African American Heritage! 

Read more about the awardees using the button below.

• Galilee United Methodist Cemetery ($38,000) - Mechanicsville, MD
• Union Street United Methodist Church ($250,000) - Westminster, MD. 
• Sanaa Center Project ($250,000) - Baltimore, MD
• Margaret Jenkins House ($226,000) - Baltimore, MD
• John Howard House ($250,000) - Brookeville, MD
• Mt. Pleasant Acres Farm ($226,000) - Preston, MD
• St. James AME Church Gravel Hill ($137,000) - Havre De Grace, MD
• Havre de Grace Colored School ($147,000) - Havre De Grace, MD
• Point of Rocks Colored Cemetery ($129,000) - Frederick, MD
• Old Pomonkey High School ($250,000) - Bryans Road, MD
• West Liberty United Methodist Church ($170,000) - Marriottsville, MD 
• Charles Sumner Lodge No. 25, GAR ($40,000) - Chestertown, MD
• American Hall ($115,000) - Hagerstown, MD
• Alexandria Chapel United Methodist Church Cemetery ($108,000) - Chicamuxen, MD
• Orchard Street Church ($250,000) - Baltimore, MD
• Boys' Village of Maryland ($250,000) - Cheltenham, MD
• Catoctin Furnace African American Cemetery ($73,000) - Thurmont, MD 
• Chew's Memorial Church and Cemetery ($135,000) - Harwood, MD
• Brewer Hill Cemetery ($250,000) - Annapolis, MD
• Goshen Farm ($51,000) - Annapolis, MD 
• Anna Murray Douglass Heritage & Visitor Center ($250,000) - Denton, MD
• Ash Memorial Cemetery ($132,000) - Sandy Spring, MD
• Frederick Douglass Summer House ($149,000) - Highland Beach, MD
• Mander House Museum ($250,000) - Worton, MD
• Sumner Cemetery ($45,000) - Cumberland, MD
• American Legion Mannie Scott Post 193 ($250,000) - Denton, MD
• Hopkins Educational/Community Building ($250,000) - Highland, MD
• St. James Free Methodist Church ($129,000) - Quantico, MD
• Chesapeake Lodge Number 48 / Jessie J. Shanks Lodge Number 137 ($250,000) - Havre De Grace, MD

Artist Talk and Harriet Tubman Spirit Awards

The Maryland Commission on African American History & Culture, in partnership with the Banneker-Douglass-Tubman Museum, invites the community to gather for the annual Harriet Tubman Spirit Awards on Saturday, March 21.

This special event honors local leaders whose work reflects Harriet Tubman’s courage, compassion, and commitment to justice. Through an artist talk, a powerful keynote address, cultural performances, and the presentation of awards, we will celebrate individuals who continue Tubman’s legacy through community empowerment and transformative action.

Join us for this Maryland Day 2026 event for an afternoon of reflection, inspiration, and connection as we uplift the modern-day conductors of change shaping our communities.

Date: Saturday, March 21, 2026

Time: 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM

Location: Banneker-Douglass-Tubman Museum

84 Franklin Street, Annapolis, MD 21401

This event is free and open to the public.

More details to come!

Maryland Day Celebration 2026

The Banneker-Douglass-Tubman Museum invites the community to take part in Maryland Day Celebration 2026, happening Saturday, March 19 through March 25.

BDTM will join more than 50 partners across the region to host special events, programs, and activities highlighting Maryland’s rich history and living culture.

This weeklong celebration encourages visitors to explore the stories, places, and communities that have shaped Annapolis, Anne Arundel County, and the broader Chesapeake Crossroads Heritage Area—honoring both our past and the ongoing pursuit of equality and freedom.

We commemorate not just that day in 1634 when Europeans first alighted on Piscataway lands, but we encourage you to explore the full arc of our history by exploring BDTM’s permanent exhibit “Deep Roots, Rising Waters: A Celebration of African Americans in Maryland”.

Dates: Saturday, March 19 – Friday, March 25, 2026*

Location: Banneker-Douglass-Tubman Museum

84 Franklin Street, Annapolis, MD 21401



*Please Note: The Banneker-Douglass-Tubman Museum is closed on Sundays (March 22) and Mondays (March 23).

JazzMaTazz: An Evening of Jazz + Spoken Word

In solidarity with UNESCO’s International Jazz Day and National Poetry Month, join the Banneker-Douglass-Tubman Museum on Thursday, April 30 for an evening of sultry sounds and poetic verses.

Experience the powerful fusion of live jazz and spoken word as we celebrate the profound cultural legacy of African American music and literature. This special program will feature acclaimed local musicians and dynamic poets performing both classic works and original compositions.

Celebrate the rhythm of our history and the poetry of our soul.

Date: Thursday, April 30, 2026

Time: 6:00pm – 8:00pm

Location: Banneker-Douglass-Tubman Museum

84 Franklin Street, Annapolis, MD 21401

The Pendulum Winter 2026 Has Swung!

This edition marks 100 years of Black history commemorations, honors the legacy of Dr. Carter G. Woodson, uplifts Maryland icons like Benjamin Banneker and Senator Verda Freeman Welcome, and centers Black women’s voices through the Banneker-Douglass-Tubman Museum’s new exhibition, She Speaks.



Read “The Pendulum” today and connect with Maryland’s African American heritage. There’s something in this edition for everyone! 

The Banneker-Douglass-Tubman Museum is operated by the Maryland Commission on African American History and Culture.