AFRO Exclusive: Terri Freeman, president of Reginald F. Lewis Museum, speaks on upcoming retirement 

By Kendra Bryant
Special to the AFRO

Terri Freeman, president and executive director of the Reginald F. Lewis Museum, will retire in December after leading the institution for six years.

Freeman began serving in 2020, becoming the seventh director of Maryland’s largest African- American museum. 

“It has really been a joy serving in the capacity of president and executive director,” said Freeman. “It’s been a full circle moment. I never thought that I would actually have the opportunity to serve and to be a steward of the history of so many important people, but also important situations, circumstances and events that have occurred in Maryland.”

Freeman, who earned a master’s degree in organizational communication management from Howard University, served as an early board member of the museum alongside her late husband, Bowyer G. Freeman. 

“When I came to the museum, my goal—since I am not a museum science major or a historian, but I am a member of this community—I wanted to make the connection, seeing the museum as more than the artifacts that are held in our collection, that are on the floor as representations of history or the words that are written on the wall,” she said.

Under her leadership, the Reginald F. Lewis Museum expanded its mission to document, interpret and preserve the complex experiences, contributions and culture of Black people in Maryland through exhibitions including “Blacks in White: African American Health Professionals,” “Afro-Futuristic Manifesto: Blackness Reimagined” and “Black Woman Genius: Tapestries of Generations.” 

“I know that there are people out there who say, ‘It’s history, it’s old, it’s not that important and that’s not what’s happening today,’” said Freeman. “But I want you to stop and take a look at what is happening today and what has already happened in the past. This is not just for Black people but for everybody.”

Freeman also oversaw the National Civil Rights Museum’s “Unpacking Racism for Action,” a seven-month program focused on racial bias and equity. 

“I remember as a child when we used to celebrate Black History Week,” said Freeman. “It’s wonderful that we have Black History Month, but Black folks are Black folks 365 days a year. It is every day. If we don’t get that history in any particular, formal way, it is our responsibility to take it upon ourselves to learn it.”

Freeman was honored for her work in preserving and celebrating Black history at the AFRO’s Juneteenth Breakfast on June 18. 

“It is more apparent than ever that the history that brought us Juneteenth must never be far from our memory,” said Freeman. “As we have seen, we can go backwards quickly. These cultural institutions are not ‘nice-to-do.’ We know that they are critical to preservation. They are an absolute necessity.”

In addition to serving as president of the Lewis Museum, Freeman serves on the boards of the Community Foundation of Greater Memphis, The Orpheum Theatre Memphis, New Memphis and the Greater Memphis Chamber. 

“It truly has been a wonderful way to cap off a career that has taken me many places,” said Freeman. “I have been blessed to be able to say I have a little bit to do with the development of the Reginald F. Lewis Museum. It is my hope that it continues to be an education institution, but also a place for connection, convening and catharsis in many ways.”

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