Museum sheds light on those history forgot

In response to “A dispute over how to honor a Black child’s work on Baltimore’s Star-Spangled Banner reveals struggle of telling a more inclusive history” (Aug. 26), The Baltimore National Heritage

Area (BNHA) lends our support to The Star-Spangled Banner Flag House and the important work they are doing to uncover and champion the diverse stories of the people who lived at their museum site at 844 E. Pratt St. centuries ago

The Baltimore National Heritage Area has always looked to preserve, support and trumpet the diverse stories of Baltimore’s historic neighborhoods and cultural institutions. Our mission has become even more important in this very critical time of making sure that our museums and other cultural institutions are magnifying the “complete” story of its various exhibitions and namesakes. To that end, BNHA has supported The Star-Spangled Banner Flag House in documenting the life of Grace Wisher, a free Black child who was also an indentured servant and apprentice at the Pratt site during the War of 1812, and making sure that her story is fleshed out and featured in telling the history of our flag.

We applaud our partners shedding light on those forgotten in history. So many are working hard to right the problem of downplaying or ignoring the contributions of marginalized people when telling America’s story. Through grant funding from the BNHA, The Star-Spangled Banner Flag House continues to do the important and hard work of making sure that the complete story is told.

Shauntee Daniels

The writer is the executive director of the Baltimore National Heritage Area.