Trauma, Truth, and Triumph: The Story of Charleston's International African American Museum

• Presented by Hopkins at Home •
• Featuring Dr. Tonya M. Matthews, SOM '06 (PhD), President and CEO of the International African American Museum (IAAM) •

Join us for "Trauma, Truth, and Triumph: The Story of Charleston's International African American Museum", featuring Dr. Tonya M. Matthews, SOM '06 (PhD), President and CEO of the International African American Museum (IAAM). Located at the historically sacred Gadsden’s Wharf—where an estimated 40% of enslaved Africans first set foot in America—the IAAM opened in June 2023 and stands as a powerful tribute to resilience, remembrance, and reclamation.

In this virtual talk, Dr. Matthews will guide attendees through the Museum’s mission of authentic, empathetic storytelling and its groundbreaking Center for Family History—a resource that brings buried African American genealogies to light through archives, oral histories, webinars, and one-on-one consultations. Drawing from her unique background as a poet, engineer, and equity visionary, Dr. Matthews will share how trauma can be transformed into truth, and truth into triumph, as the IAAM continues to disrupt institutionalized racism and uplift individual and collective narratives.

Our conversation will be moderated by Brandon Ball, BUS '16 (MBA), President of the Johns Hopkins Society of Black Alumni (SOBA).

Learn more about Charleston, SC and visit the IAAM! 

This February, Hopkins Journeys will host an enriching travel opportunity where guests will explore the rich African American heritage of the city through exclusive tours, private lectures, and immersive cultural experiences. 
Click here to view the itinerary and register.