MCAAHC Mission
The Maryland Commission on African American History and Culture is committed to discovering, documenting, preserving, collecting, and promoting Maryland’s African American heritage.
The Commission also provides technical assistance to institutions and groups with similar objectives. Through the accomplishment of this mission, the MCAAHC seeks to educate Maryland citizens and visitors to our state about the significance of the African American experience in Maryland.
Commissioners and staff at the 2023 Commission Retreat at Morgan State University
New Chair and Vice Chair Announced by MCAAHC
July 1, 2023
The Maryland Commission on African American History and Culture (MCAAHC) is pleased to announce the newly elected leadership of Chair Dr. Edwin T. Johnson and Vice Chair Maya Davis.
Source: The DCist
Among Chair Johnson’s priorities for his administration, he aims to build upon the legacies of his immediate predecessors, Rev. Dr. Tamara E. Wilson and Professor Dale Green, who developed the African American Heritage Preservation Program (AAHPP) grant into a national model, and to address the omission of women from the landscape of Maryland’s African American history.
Statement of the Maryland Commission on African American History & Culture on the Supreme Court’s Decision to Overturn Affirmative Action in College Admissions Criteria
July 2, 2023
The Maryland Commission on African American History and Culture (MCAAHC) remains committed to the belief that access to education is central to equipping all citizens with the tools to realize their fullest potential. In the wake of the Supreme Court’s overturning Affirmative Action in college admissions criteria, we are reminded of the historic and on-going struggle of African Americans to gain access to higher education in the state of Maryland. As we celebrate the birth of Thurgood Marshall, we recall the significance of the 1936 Murray v. Pearson case, which ultimately led to Maryland addressing its failure to provide higher education access to her citizens of color.
We are also reminded, more than half a century later, that the 2016 HBCU Coalition lawsuit against Maryland for its inadequate funding of its four HBCUs and its pattern of duplicating their programs at white institutions is a clear indication that this fight is far from over and must continue.
MCAAHC remains committed to that struggle to make educational opportunities available to all Marylanders and all Americans.
October 2023 Public Meeting
MONDAY, OCTOBER 2
11:00AM
BANNEKER-DOUGLASS MUSEUM
84 Franklin Street, Annapolis MD 21401
The host of this month’s Maryland Commission on African American History & Culture (MCAAHC) Public Meeting is Commissioner Elinor Thompson, representing Anne Arundel County. Commissioner Thompson is the Founding member and president of Broadneck African-American Heritage Project, Inc. Thompson is an independent genealogist, historian and author and has contributed more than thirty five years of experience in preserving, archiving African American Church records and documenting African American cemeteries through genealogy and research.
Join us to learn about upcoming initiatives of the commission, as well as hear from engaging speakers in the heritage and preservation community.
Artist Talk Part II & Closing Program:
The Radical Voice of Blackness Speaks of Resistance and Joy
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 30
11:00AM
BANNEKER-DOUGLASS MUSEUM
84 Franklin Street, Annapolis, MD 21401
Join us as we bid farewell to our current exhibit, The Radical Voice of Blackness Speaks of Resistance and Joy. During this program we will engage with some of the talented artists behind the artworks on display and have a final chance to gain unique insights into their creative processes. This event promises to be a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the culmination of this extraordinary exhibition while connecting with fellow art and history enthusiasts. Don’t miss out on this memorable afternoon of culture, conversation, and inspiration.
60th Anniversary of the March on Washington
Maryland Commemoration
In commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the March on Washington, the Caucus of African American Leaders (CAAL) and partners are planning a two-day event Saturday, August 26, and Sunday, August 27 in Annapolis, MD to include a march reenactment, youth program, and commemorative civil rights mural at Banneker-Douglass Museum.
CAAL Chapters have been active at the forefront of human and civil rights and social and racial justice around Maryland for over ten years.
FY24 African American Heritage Preservation Program Grant
Register now for the FY24 African American Heritage Preservation Program (AAHPP) webinars and in-person workshop!
Administered as a partnership between Maryland Historical Trust and the MCAAHC, AAHPP provides grants to assist in the preservation of buildings, sites, or communities of historical and cultural importance to the African American experience in Maryland.
There will be one in-person workshop (April 27th) and three virtual webinars (starting April 19th) to inform interested parties about $5 million in available funding for capital grants (up from $1 million last fiscal year). Grant awards can range from $10,000 to $250,000.
Attendance is free, but you must register to participate. Register today!
Click here to view press release from the Office of Governor Wes Moore.
Click the image below for the complete statement 
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