OREANDA-NEWS. September 26, 2016. This week, the National Museum of African-American History & Culture will open its doors to the world. The museum will educate and engage generations to come about the African-American experience in the United States.  As one of the museum’s founding donors, Verizon is proud to have played a part in supporting this magnificent institution. We say “thank you” to the many dedicated and talented people that worked hard for over a decade to transform the dream of this museum into a reality. 

Visitors to the museum will see and experience the rich and complex history of African- Americans, which encompasses a journey from slavery to the civil rights movement and beyond.  The stories brought to life through this inspiring building will remind us all of the sacrifices and  courageous acts that Americans like Fredrick Douglas, Harriet Tubman, John Lewis, Thurgood Marshall, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and many more  made to help us forge a stronger nation.

The enduring human pursuit of freedom and equality continues and faces new challenges.  And we believe that technology can contribute to this quest by educating, engaging, and empowering tomorrow's visionaries and leaders so that the wonderful experiment called democracy can continue to evolve and flourish. Today, mobile technology and the Internet are empowering both social justice activists and everyday citizens to document and share experiences and struggles previously hidden from public view and scrutiny.  Technology provides a platform for voices and faces that may otherwise have been unheard or unseen to gain notice. By enabling people to share their experiences with the world, technology has played a vital role in provoking a national conversation that needs to happen if we hope to fulfill the dream that civil rights leaders had when they took to the streets decades ago. That dream was to provide all Americans, regardless of their race, religion or socio-economic status, equal opportunities to achieve their full potential.

Verizon salutes the Smithsonian and its many supporters for opening an institution that will be a national treasure for generations to come. We are honored to support an institution that will be a timeless reminder that America is at its best when it embraces the diverse contributions of us all.