I AM BLACK HISTORY | John Guess Jr.

John Guess Jr.

John Guess Jr. is Black History because he has dedicated his life to preserving culture, elevating truth, and using art as a bridge between history and the present. As a native Houstonian and the Chief Executive Officer of the Houston Museum of African American Culture, he has played a defining role in shaping how Houston understands Black history, identity, and creativity.

Since taking the helm of HMAAC, John Guess Jr. has transformed the museum into far more than an exhibition space. Under his leadership, it has become a cultural anchor and a community hub that explores the diverse experiences of people of color while remaining rooted in Houston’s neighborhoods. Major exhibitions like the Kinsey Collection brought national attention to the institution, while community focused initiatives ensured that art and dialogue reached people where they live.

John is widely respected for his belief that art should spark conversation, even when those conversations are uncomfortable. In 2020, HMAAC accepted the Confederate monument Spirit of the Confederacy from the City of Houston. Rather than erasing history, John chose to contextualize it. By placing the monument within a multicultural framework, he created space for education, reflection, and honest dialogue about race, power, and memory in America. The decision made national headlines and reinforced the museum’s role as a place for truth, not avoidance.

Beyond his work at HMAAC, John is a dedicated art patron and collector. Alongside his wife, longtime ABC13 anchor Melanie Lawson, he has built the Guess Lawson Collection, a private collection focused on works that challenge narratives and spark social conversation. Their shared commitment to Black artists and contemporary voices reflects a belief that art has both cultural and civic responsibility.

John’s leadership has been recognized across the city and beyond. He has been honored by Art League Houston for his impact on the local arts scene and received an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Johns Hopkins University, his alma mater. Yet his most lasting contributions are not measured in titles or awards, but in the institutions strengthened, the conversations opened, and the generations inspired.

John Guess Jr. is Black History because he understands that culture must be protected, challenged, and shared. He proves that museums are not static spaces, but living institutions that can help communities reckon with the past while shaping a more honest future.

Black History is not only what we remember. It is what we choose to engage. It is what we are brave enough to tell the truth about. And John Guess Jr. continues to lead that work in Houston every day.