Answer:
The first step toward the creation of the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) was the proposal of the idea itself. The concept for a museum dedicated to African American history and culture was first proposed by black Civil War veterans in 1915, but it wasn't until the 1960s that the idea began to gain significant momentum.
In 1963, African American Representative John Conyers of Michigan introduced a bill in Congress calling for the creation of a national museum dedicated to African American history and culture. The bill was supported by a number of prominent civil rights leaders, including Martin Luther King Jr., who testified in favor of the proposal before Congress.
Despite the support of many influential figures, the bill faced significant opposition and was not passed. It wasn't until the 1990s that the proposal for a national museum dedicated to African American history and culture was finally able to gain traction. In 2003, Congress passed legislation establishing the NMAAHC and providing funding for its construction.
The process of creating the NMAAHC was long and challenging, but ultimately it was the initial proposal of the idea that set the wheels in motion for the museum's eventual establishment. Without the proposal for a national museum dedicated to African American history and culture, the NMAAHC may never have come into being.