As 2003 wound to a close, African Americans had a rare victory to celebrate. President George W. Bush signed the National Museum of African American History and Culture Act. The legislation had bipartisan support in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. At the same time, it makes sense to wonder what took so long, and why such legislation did not pass when Democrats were in charge. The passage of this legislation is just the first step in getting the museum built. This article evaluates the pros and cons of this decision and what the future might hold.