Fool's Errand

In its first four months of operation, the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture surpassed one million visitors and quickly became a cherished, vital monument to the African American experience. And yet this accomplishment was never assured. In A FOOL'S ERRAND, founding director, Lonnie Bunch, tells the story of bringing his clear vision and leadership to bear to realise this shared dream of many generations of Americans. Outlining the challenges of site choice, architect selection, building design and the compilation of an unparalleled collection of African American artifacts, Bunch, also, delves into his personal struggles - especially the stress of a high-profile undertaking - and the triumph of establishing such an institution without mentors or guidebooks to light the way. His memoir underscores his determination to create a museum that treats the black experience as an essential component of every American's identity. This inside account of how Bunch planned, managed and executed the museum's mission informs and inspires, not only readers working in museums, cultural institutions and activist groups, but, also, those in the charity and business worlds who wish to understand how to succeed - and do it spectacularly - in the face of major political, structural and financial challenges.