American talk-show host Oprah Winfrey is donating $12m (£7.7m) towards a new museum in Washington DC dedicated to
African American history, reports BBC online.
After previously giving $1m (£640,000) to the National Museum of African American History and Culture, her total
contribution is its biggest so far.The museum on Washington’s National Mall is due to be completed in 2015.
It will house a 35-seat theatre named after Winfrey, who is also a member of the museum’s advisory council.
Lonnie Bunch, director of the museum said the media mogul had been very much involved in its creation and talks were taking place to acquire memorabilia from her career.
He said he would love to have one of the microphones used during her television show – one of the most-watched programmes in US history, which ended after 25 years in 2011 – to add to the museum’s collection of more than 22,000 items.
The collection helps to tell the story of African American history from slavery to the post-Civil War period, the civil rights era, the Harlem Renaissance and the 21st Century.
In a statement released by the museum, Winfrey said: ‘I am deeply appreciative of those who paved the path for me and all who follow in their footsteps.
‘By investing in this museum, I want to help ensure that we both honour and preserve our culture and history, so that the stories of who we are will live on for generations to come,’ she added.
-With New Age input
