Bill Overview
Title: National Council on African American History and Culture Act of 2022
Description: This bill establishes a National Council on African American History and Culture in the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). The duties of the council shall include gathering timely and authoritative information concerning historical developments and cultural trends in African-American history and culture; evaluating the various programs and activities of the NEH to determine the extent to which such programs and activities are contributing, or not contributing, to the successful preservation and celebration of African-American history and culture; and developing and recommending to the NEH national policies to foster and promote the understanding of African-American history, the preservation of African-American culture, and the celebration of African Americans as contributors to the country's economic, cultural, and political success.
Sponsors: Rep. Mfume, Kweisi [D-MD-7]
Target Audience
Population: People interested in or affected by the preservation and celebration of African-American history and culture
Estimated Size: 50000000
- The bill focuses on establishing a council primarily aimed at African-American history and culture, targeting groups interested or involved in these areas.
- This includes not just African Americans, but educators, historians, cultural organizations, and the general public interested in American cultural history.
- The council will influence educational and cultural policies nationwide.
Reasoning
- The policy has the potential to impact a wide range of individuals, particularly those with a vested interest in African-American history and culture.
- Budget constraints suggest the council will focus primarily on gathering information and influencing educational and cultural policies, which may have indirect but important effects over time.
- A portion of the budget will likely be used to support educational programs and public awareness campaigns, which have the potential to enhance wellbeing among the target population.
- Though the direct impact might be limited financially, the symbolic significance and policy influence could indirectly improve wellbeing by fostering pride and inclusivity.
- Given the large potential audience, changes in policy could result in heightened awareness and celebration of African-American contributions, influencing social cohesion and cultural knowledge.
- It's important to include a diverse group in the simulation: people from different racial backgrounds, regions, and levels of engagement with the topic of African-American history.
Simulated Interviews
History Professor (Atlanta, GA)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I believe this council is long overdue. It will bring much-needed recognition and support to the preservation of African-American history.
- This policy can enhance educational resources at institutions like mine, bolstering our curriculum.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 6 |
High School Teacher (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 33 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The establishment of this council can significantly improve our access to high-quality resources and materials.
- It might lead to more community engagement and interest in the courses I teach.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Retired (Detroit, MI)
Age: 60 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's encouraging to see this focus on African-American culture, which often lacks visibility and support.
- I hope this policy leads to more local cultural programs that can engage our community.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Cultural Non-Profit Director (New York, NY)
Age: 41 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- National policies like this can amplify our efforts to educate and engage with the public concerning African-American history.
- It may support collaborations and grant opportunities for cultural programs.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 6 |
Civil rights activist (Houston, TX)
Age: 29 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This council could play a critical role in shaping narratives that promote better understanding of our history and contributions.
- While it's a step forward, it must work closely with grassroots efforts to be truly effective.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Graduate student (Chicago, IL)
Age: 24 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy can help highlight underrepresented voices in African-American history and literature.
- It might inspire more research and discussion in academic circles.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Museum Curator (New Orleans, LA)
Age: 55 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- More support for museums through this policy could lead to better educational programs and display upgrades.
- It may help attract more visitors and contribute to cultural tourism.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Public Librarian (Philadelphia, PA)
Age: 38 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- A council dedicated to this cause could support libraries in developing richer programs and collections focused on African-American history and culture.
- It might lead to more public lectures and community events centered on these topics.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Community Organizer (Charlotte, NC)
Age: 50 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Support from this council could boost local cultural festivals and events celebrating African-American heritage.
- It might also help in securing more funding for community initiatives.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Tech Entrepreneur (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 27 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The creation of this council reflects a growing interest in diversity and acknowledging historical impact.
- It might inspire innovative educational technologies to teach African-American history.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $7000000 (Low: $5000000, High: $15000000)
Year 2: $7100000 (Low: $5050000, High: $15300000)
Year 3: $7200000 (Low: $5100000, High: $15600000)
Year 5: $7500000 (Low: $5300000, High: $16200000)
Year 10: $8000000 (Low: $5500000, High: $17000000)
Year 100: $12000000 (Low: $8000000, High: $25000000)
Key Considerations
- The integration of the council into the NEH could mean reallocating existing resources rather than requiring entirely new funding.
- The council's success will depend on its ability to effectively influence NEH policies and extend its impact on educational and cultural understanding.
- Long-term success might depend on public and private partnerships to further promote and fund African-American history and cultural initiatives.