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‘Ancestral Echoes’ at MoAD is a story about when the story is missing
By Charles Lewis III at Mission Local (SF neighborhood/civic news)
· July 2, 2026
· 1 min read
Oakland-born artist Demetri Broxton set out to illustrate how the Second Great Migration brought his family to the Bay Area — but that history is as much about the unknown as the knowable.
‘Ancestral Echoes’ at MoAD is a story about when the story is missing
Why this matters in The San Francisco
The exhibit 'Ancestral Echoes' at the Museum of the African Diaspora raises important questions about the role of historical memory in shaping our understanding of the Bay Area's cultural landscape. Demetri Broxton's exploration of his family's history during the Second Great Migration is a powerful reminder that many San Francisco residents have similar stories of migration and displacement. The fact that Broxton's family history is marked by unknowns and gaps in knowledge is a common experience for many African American families in the Bay Area, where historical records and oral traditions have been disrupted or lost. As San Francisco continues to grapple with issues of gentrification and cultural preservation, exhibits like 'Ancestral Echoes' offer a nuanced perspective on the complex and often fragmented nature of local history, highlighting the need for ongoing efforts to document and celebrate the diverse experiences of the city's residents.
About this story
Original reporting by Mission Local (SF neighborhood/civic news) . The San Francisco surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit Mission Local (SF neighborhood/civic news) . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: local ·
Published: July 2, 2026 ·
Source: Mission Local (SF neighborhood/civic news) ·
Reading time: 1 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? Oakland-born artist Demetri Broxton set out to illustrate how the Second Great Migration brought his family to the Bay Area — but that history is as much about the unknown as the knowable.
‘Ancestral Echoes’ at MoAD is a story about when the story is missing
When was this published? This article was first published on July 2, 2026 by Mission Local (SF neighborhood/civic news) and curated for The San Francisco readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Charles Lewis III at Mission Local (SF neighborhood/civic news). To learn more about how The San Francisco selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more local coverage from The San Francisco, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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