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I have some problems with the concept of the Museum of African American History.
I haven't visited that museum--I'm sure I would be emotionally overwhelmed by it.
But my feeling at the moment is that African-American history should not have been entirely removed from the Museum of American History.
I've visited the museum. It is a great place and you should go. It evokes a plethora of emotions.
I'll note it is the Smithsonian Museum of African American History AND Culture.
People forget the culture part, but I love the way it is woven through the museum. You basically start in the bottom of the museum, which is the "history" portion and work your way up to the "culture" portion. The culture portion being last means you'll end on a high note - knowing these people survived and created so much. It is very inspiring.
I'll also note that there are various Smithsonian museums and I'm very glad and grateful that African Americans have one. I was not able to view Emmett Till's coffin as the line was too long when I went last and I didn't want to view it the first time.
Some of my relatives donated items to the museum regarding African American pioneer communities in OH and MI. So I went the first year it opened. There is also a "story corps" center there to record stories about visitors and a genealogy center. They also have an interactive family/children's area that my kids really liked. One of the features that, last time we went, was an interactive video game where kids learned how to do a step routine a-la step show at an HBCU.
I've visited the museum. It is a great place and you should go. It evokes a plethora of emotions.
I'll note it is the Smithsonian Museum of African American History AND Culture.
People forget the culture part, but I love the way it is woven through the museum. You basically start in the bottom of the museum, which is the "history" portion and work your way up to the "culture" portion. The culture portion being last means you'll end on a high note - knowing these people survived and created so much. It is very inspiring.
I'll also note that there are various Smithsonian museums and I'm very glad and grateful that African Americans have one. I was not able to view Emmett Till's coffin as the line was too long when I went last and I didn't want to view it the first time.
Some of my relatives donated items to the museum regarding African American pioneer communities in OH and MI. So I went the first year it opened. There is also a "story corps" center there to record stories about visitors and a genealogy center. They also have an interactive family/children's area that my kids really liked. One of the features that, last time we went, was an interactive video game where kids learned how to do a step routine a-la step show at an HBCU.
I had visited the African-American section of the Museum of American History several times, as well as the Civil Rights Museum in Memphis (which is housed in the hotel at which Martin Luther King was assassinated). That one really hit me hard because those events took place within my own lifetime and memory, although I was very young as they started. But some things, like the firebombed bus of the Freedom Riders, I definitely remembered.
I've visited the museum. It is a great place and you should go. It evokes a plethora of emotions.
I'll note it is the Smithsonian Museum of African American History AND Culture.
People forget the culture part, but I love the way it is woven through the museum. You basically start in the bottom of the museum, which is the "history" portion and work your way up to the "culture" portion. The culture portion being last means you'll end on a high note - knowing these people survived and created so much. It is very inspiring.
I'll also note that there are various Smithsonian museums and I'm very glad and grateful that African Americans have one. I was not able to view Emmett Till's coffin as the line was too long when I went last and I didn't want to view it the first time.
Some of my relatives donated items to the museum regarding African American pioneer communities in OH and MI. So I went the first year it opened. There is also a "story corps" center there to record stories about visitors and a genealogy center. They also have an interactive family/children's area that my kids really liked. One of the features that, last time we went, was an interactive video game where kids learned how to do a step routine a-la step show at an HBCU.
It is the "hot ticket" in DC these days.
I am eager to visit, but I have heard the crowds are huge. I will probably wait until next Winter, take a day off, and hit it bright and early.
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It seems to me honoring Emmitt Till is a little like the tomb of the unknown soldier.
We don't know the identity of the man buried there; he may have been heroic, he may not have been.
But honoring him, we honor all those unknown soldiers who never returned from battle and we don't know where they are.
Honoring Emmitt Till is also honoring all those hundreds (thousands?) of unnamed unrecognized victims of race hate after the civil war and throughout the civil rights era.
I think no victim deserves honor unless their victimhood was related somehow to a heroic deed. Ex:someone murdered while trying to defend someone else who is being attacked.
I don't agree the 9/11 victims deserve a monument any more than Emmett Till. They did nothing heroic.
A monument to the first responders is more fitting.
Honoring victims is insulting to true heroes who voluntarily incur risk to benefit/save/aid others.
As somebody from OKC I can tell you that this is baloney. First responders would refuse to be honored in lieu of the victims of a tragedy. It's possible to honor both. And that's what we do in OKC every April 19th.
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