Plans for African American Museum

Almost a century after an African-American memorial was first proposed for the U.S. capital, a grand vision for a museum encompassing black life in the United States is moving toward realization. Backed by $2 million in federal funds, a special commission appointed by Congress and President Bush started work this summer on a feasibility study for a national museum of African-American history and culture.

"I think it goes without saying that African-Americans have been the major backbone in building and developing America into the country that it is today," said Robert Wright, the chairman of the commission. "Unfortunately ... African-American history, like African-American life in America, was very suppressed. That needs to be told. I think that time has come."