Museum of African American History and Culture

The Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture is helping Black St. Louisans trace their roots as far back as possible. Staff members were in St. Louis this fall to teach people how to research genealogical archives and digitize old family recordings. Black St. Louisans want to help the next generation better understand their ancestry.

Five years ago, Kevin and Danielle McCoy were making art that wasn’t particularly political.“We made a lot of safe work,” Kevin McCoy said, “but it didn’t…