“Financially, the museum is going through a lot right now. It breaks my heart,” said Naimah Moon, McDaniels’ sister.
Moon told supporters at the event that the museum is under significant financial strain, threatening not just programming but the institution itself.
What is happening in Sacramento mirrors a broader national pattern.
Across the country, Black museums and cultural institutions are grappling with shrinking financial support and federal funding cuts that many leaders say disproportionately impact organizations preserving Black history.
In San Francisco, the Museum of the African Diaspora lost more than $700,000 in federal grants earlier this year after funding from the Institute of Museum and Library Services was terminated. The grants supported programs for emerging Black artists.
In Boston, the Museum of African American History also saw grants cut that supported educational programming and school trips. In Detroit, the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History also has faced financial challenges tied to reductions in federal support.
The most visible target has been the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington. In March, President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing reviews of Smithsonian exhibits that the administration says “divide Americans based on race,” raising concerns among historians, museum leaders, and advocates nationwide.
Organizers behind “Sip and See” said they are not waiting for courts or politicians to determine the future of Black museums. For many in attendance, preserving the museum means the community intentionally investing its time, resources, and support to ensure the institution survives for future generations.