Redwood City's Domini Hoskins Black History Museum celebrates anniversary

“When you see a race or people saying ‘we are going to erase your history,’ you have to kind of just laugh and say ‘Really? Show me the eraser you have that can do that,’” Carolyn Hoskins said. “Our history is not something that can be erased.”

For the last quarter of a century, the Domini Hoskins Black History Museum was hosted in and out of buildings throughout the Bay Area, popping up at summer festivals, and making guest appearances to government buildings during Black History Month in February. Until last year. 

On May 1, 2024, a home was found for the collection of more than 200 categories of history and memorabilia at 890 Jefferson Ave. in Redwood City, where Black culture and influence takes up every ounce of space in the corner building near City Hall. 

One year later, Carolyn Hoskins celebrated finding the museum a home among who she regarded as family — although politicians, librarians and friends filled the seats. Guests sat at the back of the museum in a space reserved for community gatherings and learning, a critical component of the museum’s ethos. 

“I want to thank everyone for coming, over the years, at schools, county fairs, it all manifested into this because of my grandma,” Domini Hoskins said, who is now a grown adult with children of his own. “Hopefully we keep growing from here.” 

A longtime supporter of Carolyn and the museum, Supervisor Lisa Gauthier spoke to the importance of telling the uncomfortable stories of our history, and Carolyn Hoskins’ critical role in that. The supervisor, who represents Redwood City in District 4, gave a proclamation of support on behalf of the county. 

“We’re very fortunate that in Redwood City you have a location where people can come in and learn every day,” Gautheir said. “Black history is not one day or one month, it is every day. We are continuing to build and add to history.” 

Finding a permanent home was able to happen in large part because of financing obtained by state Sen. Josh Becker, D-Menlo Park, who Carolyn refers to as “my heart.” Becker helped secure $2 million in state funding in 2023 to help find Carolyn’s museum a home. 

“I had the easy work and you all helped,” Becker said to the audience. “But, Carolyn, you did the hard work. Every piece. Every time I walk in here, I marvel at the collection.” 

After visiting the pop-up museum a few times, Becker imagined Carolyn and her family packing up the collection and putting it away in storage at the end of Black History Month, and felt that wasn’t sufficient. 

“No, we need this year-round,” Becker said. “We need kids to learn the history and learn about the inventors, and the music and the culture.” 

People who have been alongside Carolyn through her journey of collecting — which began a long time before Domini asked the question, they said — spoke to her commitment of not only finding value in everything, but convincing others of that value as well. 

The museum is filled with items like iconic JET and VIBE magazine covers, discontinued Black Barbie dolls and old menus from diners serving soul food. It has artwork of Black artists, a Frosted Flakes box with Shaquille O’Neal on the front and photos of a grandma cooking with her grandson. 

The everyday lives of Black people, the community built among neighbors, and the pride felt for one another’s accomplishments, is the foundation for the museum and what it hopes to highlight, Carolyn Hoskins said. 

“America is built on the backs of ordinary people doing such great things,” she said. 

The collection in the museum and the casual-natured celebration of the one-year anniversary reflect that — though Carolyn Hoskins feels more than just an ordinary person.