Since we opened our doors nearly 160 years ago, the Brooklyn Academy of Music has hosted artists, presidents, leaders, public figures, abolitionists, and other activists. In the aftermath of fire and flood, from the American Civil War to the current international health crisis and national movement for racial justice, BAM has been a place for our communities to gather together. Through these unique curated selections from the Leon Levy BAM Digital Archive, we've sought to highlight some of the many powerful voices who make up our rich history and who help us reflect on the challenges and promises of the society in which we live.