African Americans & the Arts in the Federal Government
This series of blogs were written by Tina L. Ligon, Supervisory Archivist at the National Archives at College Park, Maryland
This year the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) is celebrating the countless contributions of African Americans in the arts. The 109 year-old organization selects annual themes to showcase all aspects of Black life in America. This year’s theme, African Americans and the Arts, allows for the expression of African American creativity in the areas of visual arts, poetry & literature, film, music, and comedy. The National Archives and the Presidential Libraries hold photographs, sound recordings, moving images, and textual documents of Black artists interacting with the federal agencies in areas of activism, official visits, and acknowledgement of their achievements. Today’s blog highlights records from the the Presidential Libraries.
The Presidential Medal of Freedom is given by the current President of the United States to people who the sitting president feels made especially meritorious contributions to the national interest of the country, world peace, or cultural significance. African American artists in the areas of literature, music, and performance art, have received this award for their legendary contributions to American culture.
Notable authors and poets who received the Presidential Medal of Freedom for their storytelling include Toni Morrison, Maya Angelou, and Ralph Ellison.
Black singers and musicians received the Presidential Medal of Freedom for their contribution to the music world and overcoming barriers related to race. Some of these recipients include Marian Anderson, Leontyne Price, Duke Ellington, Eubie Blake, Count Basie, Pearl Bailey, Ella Fitzgerald, Aretha Franklin, B. B. King, Diana Ross, and Stevie Wonder.
President Barack Obama awards the Medal of Freedom to Stevie Wonder 
10-17-1988 Nancy Reagan presents Presidential Medal of Freedom to Pearl Bailey in east room 
President Barack Obama presents the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Diana Ross during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House, Nov. 22, 2016. 
President George W. Bush Presents Aretha Franklin with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in the East Room of the White House 
President George W. Bush Presents Riley “B. B.” King with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in the East Room of the White House 
President Nixon presents Duke Ellington with the Presidential Medal of Freedom 
10/9/1981 President Reagan James “Eubie” Blake speaking during Ceremony for Recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom in the East Room
Black actors and performers also received Presidential Medals of Freedom for their work bringing the stories of African American to the stage and the screen, along with their social activism. Some of these recipients include Cicely Tyson, Sidney Poitier, Alvin Ailey, and Denzel Washington.
