OUR STORY

We are building the country’s first museum that focuses on Black history that is generally hidden and untold. This historic project is presented by Melanoid Nation Foundation, which is a 501c3 non-profit organization based in Los Angeles. This project is spearheaded by filmmaker Tariq Nasheed, who produced the top-selling Hidden Colors documentary series. The museum will feature a plethora of artifacts and material featured in these films.

Sold-out screening of one of the Hidden Colors documentary films

The Hidden History museum will focus on presenting global Black history and it will also emphasize Foundational Black American history as well.

LOCATION

The museum will be built in the Leimert Park area of Los Angeles. There is a lot available in a prime location of Crenshaw Blv., and this is where the Hidden History Museum will be located. The museum will also act as a cultural center and tourist attraction for the South Los Angeles area.

MUSEUM SECTIONS

The Hidden History Museum will have 5 general sections on the first floor. The sections are:

1.Master Teachers

In this section, we will exhibit the works of respected scholars like Dr. John Henrik Clarke, Dr. Frances Cress Welsing, Dr. Amos Wilson, Chancellor Williams, J.A Rogers, and many others.

Master Teachers, Dr. John Henrik Clarke, Dr. Yosef Ben-Jochannan, and Chancellor Williams

2. Black Inventors

In this section we have have exhibits of inventions created by people such as Lewis  Latimer, Benjamin Banneker, Granville Woods, Garrett Morgan and many others.

Charles SL Baker and his invention the friction heater

3. Black Explorers

This section will feature the history of unsung Black explorers such as Estevanico The Moor, Matthew Henson, James Beckwourth, Jean Baptiste Pointe du Sable, and many others.

Matthew Henson, the Foundational Black American who was the first person to reach the North Pole

4. Black Rebel Leaders

This section will feature the history of The Black Seminoles, Maroon societies, The Black Panthers, and many others.

Black Seminole leader John Horse

5. The History of Black Music

This section will go into the history of every American music genre, and how they were influenced by Black culture. We will also showcase a first-of-it’s-kind exhibit that features the history of West Coast Hip Hop music.

West Coast Hip Hop pioneers, Uncle Jamm’s Army

GENERAL INTERIOR DESIGN

We are also designing a screening room for the upper level of the museum, where we can showcase our documentary films. On the lower level, there will be a bookstore/souvenir section featuring additional information on the items in the museum.

We are in the process of acquiring the land for the museum, directly across the street from Leimert Park, which is the cultural epicenter of Black Los Angeles. The funds from this campaign will help us acquire the land, and get the ball rolling on the construction of the building. We plan on acquiring the land by November 2021, and getting started with the construction on or before January 2022

The Current Location For The Hidden History Museum

We have some really phenomenal perks for everyone who wants to get involved with making this historic project a reality. Some of those perks include different levels of membership to the museum. Other perks include business advertising opportunities. Everyone who contributes to the project will have their names included in various parts of the building structure. 

Our overall goal is to use the Hidden History Museum to have a cultural center rooted in the community. Also we want the museum to help revitalize the businesses around the Crenshaw area of Los Angeles, and promote other businesses around the country.

So be sure to get involved with this historic project and let’s make it happen, family!

Risks & Challenges

The only challenge we have is NOT reaching our financial goal. If we reach the goal, everything is going to move forward with the construction of the museum. The only possible challenges we could foresee are minor delays with building permits, or minor administrative delays. But other than these typical issues with general contracting, the project will go as planned.