Community
“Making a Way Out of No Way” is an expression in the African American community that describes the power of community. Whether through church congregations or labor organizations, sewing circles or sororities; through intellect, grit, and resilience, community makes the impossible possible.
In 1977, 13 years before the Americans with Disabilities Act, Kitty Cone and other disability rights activists occupied a federal building in San Francisco. They demanded the government protect their rights. Ren, a student, speaks with Katherine Ott, curator at our National Museum of American History, about why Cone's work matters.
Collection Objects
Learn these stories or see more objects that showcase to the power of community in our collections.
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The Song That Connected Two Women across Time -
Juliette Gordon Low Envisioned a Broad-Based Girl Scout Movement -
Kay Sekimachi Found Solace in Art While Interned -
What U.S Army Veteran Mitchelene BigMan Wore to a Presidential Inaugural Parade -
Coming of Age, Latina Style -
Finding Solidarity and Self-Sufficiency through Black Sororities
Videos
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In 1977, 13 years before the Americans with Disabilities Act, Kitty Cone and other disability rights activists occupied a federal building in San Francisco. They demanded the government protect their rights. Ren, a student, speaks with Katherine Ott, curator at our National Museum of American History, about why Cone's work matters.
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Noriko Sanefuji, Museum Specialist at the National Museum of American History, speaks about World War II-era artifacts that represent the community life of incarcerated Japanese Americans. This film received Federal support from the Asian Pacific American Initiatives Pool, administered by the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center.
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The Women's Collective in Washington, D.C., holds a "Call My Name" quilting workshop to include women of color in the AIDS Memorial Quilt. Hear how this project promotes representation and healing in the community.
Smithsonian American Women
