Blog.
The Docent: What is it? And why does it matter?
A docent is more than a guide — they are cultural stewards, educators, and facilitators of dialogue. Discover the history and evolving role of docents, and imagine how they can bring the stories of the Delta’s African-American communities to life.
Does Stealing a Painting Make It More Valuable?
When a painting is stolen, its price doesn’t go up — its cultural presence disappears. The myth of art theft raising value overlooks the real loss: history, memory, and community. At the Northeast Louisiana Delta African-American Heritage Museum, we know the true worth of our collections lies not in auction numbers, but in the stories they preserve for generations.
Artist Spotlight: Stanley Whitney
Stanley Whitney waited decades for the art world to recognize his genius. Today, his luminous grids of color stand as some of the most important contributions to abstraction in the last half century. His story is one of resilience, vision, and a reminder that Black artists are not at the margins of modern art — they are at its center.
When the White House Curates Black History
When national museums bend under political pressure, history itself is reshaped. What disappears in Washington doesn’t vanish — it loses its place on the nation’s stage. At the Northeast Louisiana Delta African-American Heritage Museum, we envision a different path: independence, innovation, and integrity. Imagine a museum in Monroe fully resourced to tell the story of the Delta — and Black history — without compromise.
When Curation Becomes Censorship: Why Regional Museums Matter More Than Ever
In August, the White House released a list of Smithsonian museums, singling out the National Museum of African American History and Culture for what it called an excessive focus on ‘how bad slavery was.’ Exhibit texts using terms such as systemic racism were flagged for correction. When curation is dictated not by evidence and scholarship but by political decree, it slides into censorship. Regional museums like ours exist to ensure these stories remain whole, honest, and alive.
The Power of Membership
Picture a child walking into the museum for the first time. They stop in front of a painting, wide-eyed, because they see a face on the wall that looks like theirs, telling a story that feels like them. That moment — recognition, joy, and belonging — is what membership helps to make possible.
Who is the Most Famous Black Artist/Painter in History?
Who holds the title of the most famous Black artist in history? The answer is more complex than a single name. From 19th-century pioneers to contemporary icons, Black painters have shaped art history in powerful and enduring ways. This post explores that journey and the artist whose influence still dominates global conversations.
How ‘Discovery’ Meant Genocide: The Catastrophic Claim on the Mississippi
In 1682, La Salle claimed the Mississippi for France without consent from the Indigenous nations who lived here for millennia. That act unleashed centuries of violence, displacement, and cultural erasure—histories we must confront to understand the Delta today.
Black Figures in Western Religious Art
For nearly a thousand years, Western religious art has rendered biblical figures as white Europeans, erasing their Middle Eastern origins and sidelining Black presence. This was a theological and political project with lasting consequences. Today, scholars are uncovering the hidden histories and lost images that challenge this centuries-old narrative.
Restoration, Part III: After the Reveal
Restoration is often seen as the finish line — but the real story begins after the reveal. From a hidden child in a 19th-century portrait to lost names in a water-damaged census, restored histories ripple outward, reshaping how we see the past.
Restoration, Part II: Why Are Precious Works of Art Restored?
Why are precious works of art restored? Is it to reveal what time wore away — or to confront a coverup? In this second part of our series, we explore how restoration reclaims not just paint, but presence.
Restoration, Part I: How Are Precious Works of Art Restored?
Ever wonder how priceless works of art are restored? In this first part of our series on restoration, we explore the tools, techniques, and precision behind the conservation of historic paintings—and what it means when a lost face is brought back into view.
William J. Powell: The Pilot Who Dreamed in Black and White
William J. Powell was one of the first Black aviators on the West Coast—he was a visionary who opened the skies to a generation. Through his Bessie Coleman Aero Club and his 1934 manifesto Black Wings, Powell laid the groundwork for the Tuskegee Airmen and challenged the nation to imagine a future where Black pilots would lead. His legacy still speaks powerfully to northeast Louisiana and beyond.
Why Museum Membership Matters
Even if you’ve never visited, becoming a member of the Northeast Louisiana Delta African-American Heritage Museum is one of the most meaningful ways to support the preservation of Black history in northeast Louisiana. In a time of shrinking federal support, membership helps sustain our mission, build community, and shape the future of the stories we’re here to tell.
Faith and Power: The African Presence in Renaissance Religious Art
From Renaissance altarpieces to Kongo crucifixes, Africans have long shaped sacred art on both sides of the Atlantic. This post explores their powerful presence in religious imagery—both as subjects and creators—and traces a legacy of faith, resistance, and beauty that continues in African-American spiritual traditions today.
A Sanctuary of Art and Healing: The Northeast Louisiana Delta African-American Heritage Museum
Beautiful art doesn’t just move you—it heals you. At the Northeast Louisiana Delta African-American Heritage Museum, science and soul meet in the gallery, where every brushstroke can lower stress, lift your mood, and quiet the mind. This isn’t just a cultural experience—it’s a wellness one.
Art Across Borders: How Rivera and Kahlo Connected with Black America
Though Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo weren’t Black, their art and politics deeply resonated with African-American artists and activists. This post explores how their solidarity crossed borders—and what it still teaches us today.
How Do Artists Like Kehinde Wiley and Kerry James Marshall Paint Such Large Pieces?
How do artists like Kehinde Wiley and Kerry James Marshall paint such massive works? What begins as a technical question unfolds into a deeper story about power, presence, and the legacy of Black visibility in art.
Jeff Koons, the Moon, and the Delta.
Jeff Koons sent a sculpture to the Moon—a gesture toward permanence. But in the Northeast Louisiana Delta, art lives through connection, not distance. This post reflects on what it means to create work meant to be seen, felt, and remembered in community.
Alicia Keys, Swizz Beatz, and the Transformative Power of Collecting Black Art
Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz aren’t just music icons—they’re two of the most influential collectors of contemporary Black art. With a collection over 1,000 pieces strong and a mission to elevate Black artists across generations, they’re quietly shifting the center of gravity in the art world. This post explores what their approach means for collectors, museums, and communities like ours.