America I AM: The African American Imprint is a touring museum exhibition celebrating nearly 500 years of African American contributions to the nation
through artifacts, documents, multimedia, photos and music.

America I AM will make its west coast debut at the California Science Center from
October 30, 2009 – April 15, 2010. It premiered at the National Constitution Center in
Philadelphia Jan. 15, 2009, and will travel to 10 metropolitan locations over four years.

This multimedia-driven interactive gives you the opportunity to explore a selection of artifacts from America I AM. Like the live exhibition, the online exhibit -- divided into 12 thematic galleries -- presents a historical continuum of pivotal moments in courage, conviction and creativity that solidifies the undeniable imprint of African Americans across the nation and around the world.

http://www.americaiam.org/Pages/Explore.aspx

The exhibition endeavors to bring together Americans of all cultures, ages, and backgrounds to celebrate and further understand the indelible African American imprint on this country.

Twelve galleries encompassing about 13,000 square feet take visitors through a journey from struggle to triumph to celebration.

The exhibition includes more than 200 artifacts, such as the doors to the Cape Coast Castle in Ghana (Doors of No Return), Alex Haley’s typewriter used to write Roots, personal effects of Malcolm X, the door key and stool from the Birmingham jail cell that held Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., sports memorabilia from Michael Jordan, Arthur Ashe and Muhammad Ali, items from entertainers who have left their mark on the world such as Etta James, Michael Jackson and Prince, and much more.

The exhibition was developed in partnership with Tavis Smiley and organized by Arts and Exhibitions International (AEI) and the Cincinnati Museum Center.

The development of the exhibition was guided by an advisory panel of some of the most notable scholars in the field. John Fleming, president of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History, and director emeritus of Museums, the Cincinnati Museum Center, is executive producer.

America I AM is made possible by its proud sponsor, Walmart Stores, Inc. Northern Trust is the exhibition’s educational partner, and Microsoft is the technology partner for the tour.