This week on our Mini Episode of This Is How We Create, we unpack the revolutionary story of Dr. Margaret Burroughs, who transformed her first-floor living room into the DuSable Museum—one of America's most significant institutions of African American history. This episode explores how creating the spaces we need can spark cultural movements that ripple through generations.

In This Episode

- The power of starting where you are - even if it's your living room

- How Dr. Burroughs built cultural institutions without waiting for permission

- The journey from home museum to Smithsonian-affiliated institution

- Why representation matters in preserving and sharing Black history

- The lasting impact of creating spaces for community art and culture

Key Moments

00:00 - Introduction and setting the scene

- Welcome to "This Is How We Create"

- Introduction to Dr. Margaret Burroughs (formerly Victoria Margaret Taylor)

 

02:30 - Early Years

- Born in Louisiana

- Migration to Chicago

- Marriage to Charles Burroughs in 1949

 

05:00 - Building Cultural Spaces

- Co-founding the Southside Community Art Center at age 22

- Hosting artists like Langston Hughes

- Eleanor Roosevelt's dedication of the center

 

08:00 - The Living Room Revolution

- Converting their first floor into a museum in 1961

- Growth into the DuSable Museum

- Current collection of over 13,000 artifacts

 

Notable Quotes

"I just couldn't see myself standing in front of a group of eager-eyed young Black people and not being able to tell them something very positive about themselves." - Dr. Margaret Burroughs

 

Resources Mentioned

- Southside Community Art Center (Still active today)

- DuSable Museum

- Dr. Burroughs' linocuts and paintings

 

Episode Takeaways

1. Don't wait for perfect conditions - start where you are

2. Community spaces can grow from humble beginnings

3. Personal spaces can become cultural institutions

4. Art and history preservation are acts of revolution

5. Creating space for others is a form of legacy building

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This episode of This is How We Create is produced and edited by Martine Severin.