Lifestyle | museums Black Museums Fight for Funding Economy, depressing subject matter are issues; others cite little tradition in community By Drew Nelles Posted Aug 31, 2008 9:32 AM CDT Copied Lonnie Bunch, left, head of the National Museum of African American History and Culture, looks at family documents of Connie Bishop at the Harold Washington Library in Chicago, Jan. 19, 2008. (AP Photo/Brian Kersey) As Barack Obama’s fundraisers pull in huge sums of money for his historic candidacy, African-American museums across the country are struggling for cash and visitors, Portfolio reports. Part of the problem may be the flagging economy, but for the likes of the National Slavery Museum, the subject matter can deter donors; others say the black community has yet to develop a tradition of giving to such efforts. "When we try to raise funds, we have found that people are very uncomfortable, corporations are uncomfortable,” the Slavery Museum’s executive director says. Other museums are floundering, too; Cincinnati's National Underground Railroad Freedom Center cut its budget by $5 million and its staff by 30% in the face of poor attendance. It’s "a very tough economic climate for all museums,” one director says. Read These Next Taylor and Travis are getting married. One area where Bernie Sanders and President Trump are in sync. Trump fired a fed governor, but she says she's not leaving. An 11-year-old girl gave birth at home. The story gets worse. Report an error