American Prophets: Writers, Religion, and Culture

Currently on display in person at the American Writers Museum, American Prophets is a powerful exhibit that takes you on the ultimate exploration through spirituality and storytelling. Travel through vibrant spaces that trace the many paths of American faith, from pre-European Indigenous rituals to the religiosity of the Founding Fathers and much more. This isn’t just an exhibit—it’s a shared journey of reflection, inspiration, and connection through the stories that move us all.

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American Voices

Delve into more than 400 years of American writing, from Indigenous storytelling traditions to the explosion of new American voices in the 20th century and beyond. Organized by chronological eras of literary innovation, the exhibit highlights select authors who each played a role in creating the unique character of American writing. Founding-era figures and former presidents appear alongside writers like Frederick Douglass and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, who challenged and expanded the nation’s ideals with their powerful words.

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My America: Immigrant & Refugee Writers Today

In our exhibit My America, hear from more than 30 leading immigrant and refugee writers who talk about their experiences, carving community through writing, reimagining what “home” is, and more. Many signers of the Declaration were themselves immigrants to this land, or first or second generation immigrants. Featuring powerful, intimate stories from the likes of Viet Thanh Nguyen, Reyna Grande, Edwidge Danticat, and more, learn how immigrants and refugees have shaped the fabric of the nation.

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• Hannah Arendt: One of the most renowned political thinkers of the 20th century, her work remains all-too relevant today. Born in Germany, Arendt came to the U.S. as a refugee and used writing to reckon with the rise of the Third Reich. After World War II, Arendt became one of the most prominent—and controversial—public intellectuals of her time.
• William Apess: In his writing, indigenous author and orator William Apess reclaims his Pequot identity after being taken away from his family and forced to work as a servant. In Christianity, Apess found an argument for social justice that fueled his fight for Native American rights. Famously, he courted controversy in a speech that hailed both George Washington and Wampanoag Chief King Philip as fathers of the nation.
• Norman Lear: The creative force behind some of the most groundbreaking shows, Lear transformed American television in his 75+ year career. He was also a staunch activist, co-founding the People for the American Way and purchasing an original copy of the Declaration to tour around the States and encourage voter enrollment.

Stream all episodes of Nation of Writers here.