SACRAMENTO, Calif. — It's a hidden gem in South Sacramento. The Sojourner Truth African Heritage Museum sits in the corner of the Florin Square shopping center.
Shonna McDaniels founded the museum in 1996. Her mission is to change lives through art education.
"It's just been so amazing to be able to do this work," said McDaniels. "What's special to me is being able to work with youth that are choosing the path of being an artist."
The museum holds several events and programs to inspire youth, strengthen families and bring communities together. There are exhibits, permanent and temporary, exploring Black history and culture. McDaniels says it's about ensuring representation in the arts.
"This is what matters. Seeing the Black families come out to gather and be able to learn about their history and culture," she said. "We have a vibrant history and culture that's not being shared in the schools today."
McDaniels fell in love with art at a young age and remains inspired by the story of Sojourner Truth. Born into slavery, Sojourner Truth tirelessly advocated for the rights of African Americans and women. She is memorialized in countless art works, murals and statues.
"I tell everyone that I came into this world with a paintbrush in my hand," said McDaniels. "I have been an artist all my life. As a young lady, I used to draw images of Sojourner Truth, and I told myself one day as a little girl that I wanted to do something special to honor her legacy."
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She did with the creation of the SoJo Museum. It explores the Black experience, past and present. The walls of the museum are covered with African American art from paintings to photography, quilts and more.
"Often, Black artists are overlooked," said McDaniels. "Everything that I share on the canvas is coming from my perspective as a Black woman because I want young Black girls, when they see my art, to be proud to be a Black woman."
McDaniels has contributed to more than 150 murals in Sacramento, Stockton and San Francisco. She says it's been a challenge.
"With me wanting to create murals that reflect who I am as a Black woman, reflect melanated images in the community. I've often, in the past, been denied that fact," she said. "There's been times when I wanted to show my work at galleries in the downtown Sacramento area and I was told that I could not show my work because I had these melanated images of Black women."
With the SoJo museum, McDaniels is creating space for Black artists of all ages to thrive. Since the theme for Black History Month this year is "African Americans and the Arts," McDaniels says now is the time to ensure the advancement of Black representation in the arts year-round.
"Being able to celebrate Black artists is just an amazing thing and it's long overdue," she said. "My hope is for more of these powerful images of Black people to be in public view."
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