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National Museum of African American Music🎵
#MusicStartsHere

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Five years ago, we opened our doors to honor the music that shaped America. 🎶
Today, we celebrate five years of preservation, education, and cultural truth — and we step boldly into what’s next. ✨

Join us for NMAAM’s 5th Anniversary Celebration (MLK Day Community Day) — a powerful day of music, community, and legacy honoring 5 years through the soundtrack of Black history.

🎤 Live performances
🎙 Powerful panels + legendary conversations
🧒🏾 Family workshops + youth programming
📻 The official launch of NMAAM Radio
🖼 New anniversary exhibition

📍510 Broadway
🗓 Monday, January 19
⏰ 12–5 PM
🎟 FREE community celebration

Tap the link in our bio for the full schedule + event details. 🔗

#NMAAM #NMAAM5 #MLKDayCommunityDay #BlackMusicHistory taken in National Museum of African American Music by @thenmaam

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9 months ago

#TodayInBlackMusic: October 5, 1968, James Brown's "Say It Loud - I'm Black and I'm Proud" was sitting at the top of the R&B chart. That record hit at a very specific time. America was dealing with the civil rights movement, the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., urban uprisings, and a growing demand for Black pride and self-definition. James Brown stepped into that moment with a song that was direct, loud, and impossible to misunderstand. ⁠
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The call-and-response made it feel like a rally. Brown would shout "Say it loud," and the children on the record answered, "I'm Black and I'm proud." That was powerful because it put affirmation right into the hook. It was not hidden in metaphor. It was right there. James Brown was already the Godfather of Soul, but this record showed how funk could carry a political message without losing the groove. It gave people language, rhythm, and pride at the same time.⁠
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Come learn more about James Brown and his contemporaries in our galleries!⁠
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#NMAAM #MusicStartsHere by @thenmaam

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10 hours ago

Happy October! Don't forget that NMAAM gallery admission is free for all guests the first Wednesday of each month, thanks to our partners at the Nissan Foundation! Join us on October 7, from 10am - 5pm, to enjoy Nashville's favorite museum at no cost. 🪩🕺🏾⁠
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#NissanFoundation #NissanPhilanthropy by @thenmaam

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a day ago

NEXT SATURDAY: We're teaming up with Maximize Your Mobility to bring you Body Language: a special edition of #HeartbeatSaturdays featuring a #dance fitness class led by Aubonee Holmes! This activation is sure to get your heartbeat up while you enjoy our curated soundtrack of #blackmusic!⁠
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🗓️ Saturday, October 10 ⁠
🕚️ 11:00 AM ⁠
📍 National Museum of African American Music⁠
🎟️ FREE to attend! Drop-ins welcome by @thenmaam

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2 days ago

spent an afternoon at the National Museum of African American Music @thenmaam (and saw myself all up in there too 👀 what a most blessed lineage to be amidst and of!..) had the sweetest nourishing experience walking the space with the amazing staff and unpacking artistry and legacy (…liiiike, Billie Holiday’s perfume bottle…Emeraud, “Night in Paris”…I’m tryin to find that y’all!…). anyway…the rabbit holes of study and learning are endless up in here. Def recommend if yall are ever in the Nashville area :)

📸 353 Media Group / Elle Danielle. by @thenmaam

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4 days ago

It’s truly an honor to be recognized in this place dedicated to preserving African American music and history. NMAAM, thank you for seeing me. Thank you for honoring my journey. Most of all, thank you for keeping this music, our music alive! taken in National Museum of African American Music by @thenmaam

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7 days ago

NMAAM and TappedIN 901 Present First Note: For the Love of R&B

🎶 Join us on October 24, 2026, as NMAAM and TappedIN 901 present First Note: For the Love of R&B — a celebration of Memphis and Nashville’s emerging artists, bridging both cities for one unforgettable night of great music, curated cocktails, and celebration.

Featuring Kyleigh, Esi, Trinity Adir, and Dot Moor, live at the National Museum of African American Music.

📍 National Museum of African American Music
📅 October 24, 2026
🕖 Doors open at 7 PM
🔗 Link in bio
Don’t miss it. ✨ taken in Nashville, Tennessee by @thenmaam

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10 days ago

When the board approved your audacious international growth campaign @thenmaam. Bill & Dex 💥🚀

#fundraiserlife #philanthropy taken in National Museum of African American Music by @thenmaam

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10 days ago

We're partnering with the Nashville Film Festival to give away tickets to the Tennessee premiere of THE LORRAINE, the powerful new documentary from acclaimed filmmaker Sam Pollard! As part of the 57th Nashville Film Festival, experience this moving film that reclaims the rich history of Memphis' Lorraine Motel as a center of Black entrepreneurship, music, Civil Rights activism, and resilience. ⁠
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Following the screening, stay for a special conversation with director Sam Pollard, producer Alvin D. Hall, and moderator Dr. James B. Pratt. ⁠
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📅 Saturday, September 26 ⁠
⏰ 2:30 PM ⁠
📍 Roots Theater ⁠
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How to Enter: ⁠
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✅ Follow @thenmaam and @nashfilmfest ⁠
✅ Like this post ⁠
✅ Share this post to your feed or story ⁠
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Winners will receive one pair of complimentary tickets to attend the screening and discussion. Good luck! 🍀 ⁠
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#NMAAM #NashFilm #TheLorraine #NashvilleFilmFestival #DocumentaryFilm #BlackHistory #CivilRightsHistory #Memphis by @thenmaam

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12 days ago

Music City, you don’t want to miss this special event celebrating the legacy of Whitney Houston and the launch of Emily Lordi’s new book, HOLDING LIGHTNING: THE LIFE, LOVES, AND ART OF WHITNEY HOUSTON!

Author and cultural critic Emily Lordi (@emilylordi1) will be in conversation with acclaimed music journalist Ann Powers (@annkpowers) at the National Museum of African American Music (@thenmaam) on Saturday, October 10, from 2 to 3:30 pm. Together, they will discuss Houston’s impact on Black music, celebrity, and American culture, offering fresh insights into one of the greatest artists of all time.

This is a free event, though RSVPs are requested—see the link in our bio. We’ll be offering books for sale at the event—and hope to see you there! by @thenmaam

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13 days ago

this weekend, the national museum of african american music put some of my work on display, and i haven’t been able to talk about it without crying.

black music has saved my life over and over again. to have my work at nmaam, alongside the artists who came before me, is an honor i’m still trying to find words for.

happy album release week to us all. 💜 💜💜 by @thenmaam

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13 days ago

Join us 10/9 for Finding Home: Songs of Love and Justice, a powerful evening of music, storytelling, and community led by acclaimed vocalist Cheryl Slay Carr and featured guest artists, Kim Lannear and MarQo “Q” Patton. ⁠
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Finding Home explores the many meanings of “home”—from love and identity to resilience, faith, justice, and belonging. Each song becomes part of a larger musical journey, inviting audiences to reflect on the places, people, and experiences that shape who we are and where we find a sense of home.⁠
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🎟️ Tickets can be purchased now at nmaam.org/events by @thenmaam

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14 days ago