ABHM Book Club: A Fool’s Errand by Lonnie Bunch
We are pleased to announce ABHM’s August Book of the Month: A Fool’s Errand by Lonnie Bunch. We invite you to join us for a virtual discussion on Zoom.
About the Author
Lonnie G. Bunch III is an acclaimed historian, educator, and the 14th Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution—the first African American and first historian to lead it. He was the founding director of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture, guiding its creation from 2005 to 2019. A former curator and administrator at several major institutions, including the Chicago History Museum and the California African American Museum, Bunch has dedicated his career to making history accessible and inclusive. He holds degrees from American University and has received numerous honors for his leadership, scholarship, and public service.
About the Book
A Fool’s Errand chronicles Lonnie Bunch’s journey to create the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture. Blending personal reflection with professional insight, Bunch recounts the challenges of securing a site on the National Mall, designing the museum, and building a powerful collection—including artifacts from Harriet Tubman to Black Lives Matter. He explores the emotional toll of the work, the lack of precedent, and the urgency of honoring the Black experience. More than a behind-the-scenes account, the book is a testament to resilience, vision, and the power of cultural institutions to shape national understanding.
Comments Are Welcome
Note: We moderate submissions in order to create a space for meaningful dialogue, a space where museum visitors – adults and youth –– can exchange informed, thoughtful, and relevant comments that add value to our exhibits.
Racial slurs, personal attacks, obscenity, profanity, and SHOUTING do not meet the above standard. Such comments are posted in the exhibit Hateful Speech. Commercial promotions, impersonations, and incoherent comments likewise fail to meet our goals, so will not be posted. Submissions longer than 120 words will be shortened.
See our full Comments Policy here.