WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) and U.S. Representative Kweisi Mfume (D-MD-07) reintroduced the AfricanAmerican History Act. This legislation provides important resources to help educate the American public about the richness and complexity of African American history and the impacts of racism, white supremacy, and the struggle for justice on the fabric of America.

Black Americans and those of the African Diaspora have made countless contributions since the founding of the United States. Unfortunately, throughout history, there have been attempts to purposefully revise or remove African American history within our school curriculums.

“American history cannot be told honestly without including the experiences, struggles, and triumphs of Black Americans. When we rewrite or distort that history, we weaken our understanding of who we are as a nation and the work that is still needed to build a more just society,” said Senator Booker. “I am proud to reintroduce this legislation that expands access to African American history programs, helps local leaders incorporate these programs into their curriculums, and provides students and families with resources to meaningfully engage with the full story of Black history in America.”

"African American History is American history, and it is essential that we work to ensure that it is told fully and accurately. The full history of the Black experience in America must always be protected – because the story of African American people is integral to the story of the United States of America, and that history must be respected and admired as such,” said Congressman Kweisi Mfume. "The African American History Act of 2026 will serve as a lifeline to ensure that the teaching of Black history is given the resources needed to protect it from the push to censor the truth from the very highest levels of our government, and I am grateful that Senator Booker has joined me in this crucial effort in the United States Senate. We must be unwavering in our message to this administration: Your efforts will fail. What you erase, we will replace."

The African American History Act would authorize $20 million over 5 years for the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) to support African American history education programs for students, parents, and educators.

The bill would fund a variety of activities to allow the NMAAHC to continue supporting educators, students, and families in learning and exploring the richness of African American history and culture. The NMAAHC would use these funds to expand and improve upon their work in a variety of ways, including:

  • Developing and maintaining a variety of accessible resources to promote an understanding of African American history. This includes a collection of digital content, housed on the NMAAHC website, to assist educators, students, and families across the country in teaching about and engaging in African American history
  • Engaging with local and state leaders interested in incorporating these resources in curricula
  • Engaging with the public through programming, resources, and social media to increase awareness of African American history through a social justice and anti-bias lens
  • Convening experts and creating and disseminating related scholarly work
  • Translating new and existing NMAAHC work into multiple languages

This bill is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Jacky Rosen (D-NV)