As the United States marks its 250th anniversary, the nation finds itself grappling with fundamental questions about its identity, history, and future. How do we tell the story of America and its ideals and contradictions? What does it mean to reckon with the past while charting a path forward? Join us for a conversation with Lonnie Bunch, Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution and founding director of the National Museum of African American History and Culture, as he reflects on American history, national memory, and what this milestone reveals about who we are and where we're headed.

About the Speaker

Lonnie G. Bunch III, Secretary, Smithsonian Institution
Lonnie G. Bunch III is the 14th Secretary of the Smithsonian. As Secretary, he oversees 21 museums, 21 libraries, the National Zoo, numerous research centers, and several education units and centers. Previously, Bunch was the founding director of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture.