Stories

Come Together through Stories

A better world is possible. Explore the real-life stories of notable leaders and community members who have dedicated their lives to the pursuit of equity.

A 1965 photo of Dolores Huerta protesting in California, holding a sign “huelga,” which is the Spanish word for strike.

Dolores Huerta’s Story: Community Organizing, the Chicano Movement and Challenging Gender Norms

Watch as Dolores Huerta shares her story of helping to organize the Chicano movement in the southwest and challenging gender norms.

Learn more about this story

Conversation with Harvey Pratt, Designer of the National Native American Veterans Memorial

Watch as Harvey Pratt, Designer of the National Native American Veterans Memorial, discusses the narrative and symbolism behind the memorial.

USAF pilot Charles McGee during the Korean War in 1951.

Brig. Gen. Charles McGee and the Tuskegee Airmen

Watch as famed Tuskegee Airmen, Brigadier General Charles McGee speak about his experiences with racism, segregation, and breaking barriers.

Still image from “A Right to the City” Exhibition at the Smithsonian Anacostia Community Museum

Neighborhood Change in D.C.’s Chinatown Neighborhood: Stories from the Community

Five residents of D.C.’s Chinatown share their stories and how redevelopment and urban renewal practices have erased the community's legacy.

Abbey Lincoln pictured from the Smithsonian Jazz Oral History Program

The Art & Awakening of Abbey Lincoln, Jazz Singer and Civil Rights Activist

Hear the story of jazz singer and civil rights activist Abbey Lincoln as she recalls her family’s connections to slavery, her political awakening, and more.

Woman standing next to building looking upward

Stories of 2020: Refugee Communities

These short essays from South Asian refugees tell of the difficulties navigating the U.S. healthcare system and a new country during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Still from Anacostia in “A Right to the City” Exhibition at the Smithsonian Anacostia Community Museum

Desegregation and D.C.’s Anacostia Neighborhood: Stories from the Community

Experience the stories of three residents of D.C.’s Anacostia neighborhood and how their lives dramatically changed during the civil rights era.

Dolores Huerta’s Story: Community Organizing, the Chicano Movement and Challenging Gender Norms

Watch as Dolores Huerta shares her story of helping to organize the Chicano movement in the southwest and challenging gender norms.

Still from interview with Theo Gonzalvez from the National Museum of American History about Joe Bataan; photo also featured in National Portrait Gallery

A Fusion of Cultures and Identities: Joe Bataan’s Latin Boogaloo Music

Discover the story of Joe Bataan, one of the creators of Latin Boogaloo, a music that took influence from his mixed heritage and gave voice to a whole community.

Layqa Nuna Yawar interview with the Archives of American Art, a Smithsonian Institution

Layqa Nuna Yawar’s Story: Experiencing Art and Life during the Pandemic

Watch an interview with artist Layqa Nuna Yawar as he discusses how police protests and the call for rent suspensions helped drive creativity during COVID-19.