The National Museum of African American History and Culture

I jumped at the opportunity to take a trip to Washington D.C. I knew that I needed to see the National Museum of African American History and Culture. My friends who had traveled to the nation's capital arrived before the museum's opening date and those who visited previously made it seem as though it was my rite to experience it. The museum took me on an emotional journey through a time that I didn’t know affected me so strongly. It's the most beautiful structure that I’ve ever seen; its magnitude is breathtaking. The one thing that I noticed immediately was the pattern on surrounding of the building; it was odd but familiar. This thin screen or "scrim" perforated by geometrical patterns is based on historic iron grilles found in African-American communities in Charleston, South Carolina, and New Orleans, Louisiana.

The National Museum of African American History and Culture is the only national museum devoted exclusively to the documentation of African American life, history, and culture. It was established by Act of Congress in 2003, following decades of efforts to promote and highlight the contributions of African Americans. To date, the Museum has collected more than 36,000 artifacts and nearly 100,000 individuals have become members. The Museum opened to the public on September 24, 2016, as the 19th and newest museum of the Smithsonian Institution.

Upon arriving, we grabbed a map of the museum from the front desk and spoke with the guide. She informed us that the museum had ten floors, the first five floors being underground.  She then explained that on average, if we took the time to read everything on the lower levels, it could take us about 3 to 4 hours. The remaining five levels would take about 1-2 hours per level.
Are you trying to tell to tell me that, if I want to try to see everything I would be here a minimum of 6 hours?

“Yes,” she responded. “It's a lot to take in.” I didn’t understand how true those words were until much later. “It starts at the very bottom with slavery and freedom, and there is a large elevator that takes groups down to the bottom. There are three history galleries on the bottom levels that span from 1400 to 1968 and beyond. The very bottom floor has restrooms, but after that, there will be no access until after you emerge from underground.” This was beginning to sound like a massive feat the more she spoke.

As we walked away, I couldn’t help but comment on if the beginning of the museum being on the bottom level serves as a metaphor for where Slaves began their journeys to the new world: at the bottom of a boat. I came to find out, the metaphor could also speak on the upward ascent of African Americans within the United States.

Slavery was not based on the perception of race and was a temporary status – two facts that blew my mind and began the first level of the museum. The space was jam-packed with facts, pictures, and artifacts from a past unknown. The guide was right, I could never take all of this in on the first trip. The trading of human bodies for labor became more popular than the trade for goods – being able to trade services just “made sense.” The concept of slavery has never sat well with me, as it shouldn’t have for the rest of the world, but it wasn't until I saw all the voyages of the Middle Passage along with how many victims were captured in comparison to how many died. I can say that this section of the museum is comparable to a hallway, and when it has about 60 or more at the same time (and it always does) it’s cramped and difficult to walk through and see everything. Once again, it spoke to the metaphor of how the slaves were kept on their journey over.

The area opened a bit more as we ventured into the history of black men joining and fighting in wars, with hopes of earning some sort of freedom. The question of the irony of a man drafting a document that speaks of freedom, yet he owned slaves – Thomas Jefferson –  began the next section of the museum. There we saw artifacts from the pre-20th century and learned more of the noticeable names of history – such as Benjamin Banneker, Nat Turner, Phillis Wheatley, and Harriet Tubman. There was literally an entire slave cabin donated by a family who had the dwelling in their family for decades.

Another cool, yet really heartbreaking aspect of the journey included an interactive Greensboro Lunch Counter experience. There was a lunch counter set up with seats for people to sit and watch the video in a long screen ahead. But on the table, in front of every seat, there was a touch screen that interactive taught facts about the sit-ins, the black power, and other aspects of the time. The images were heartbreaking. It was hard to walk through and see the imagery of the time. After walking through the bottom half, it was all a lot to take in.





Photography was encouraged throughout the entire museum, except for in the Emmitt Till memorial where, at the request of the family, photography was forbidden. I could not walk through it. I walked into the room, saw a casket towards the rear, and had to walk out. The glass-top casket that originally displayed his body was in the room, from what I was told. At that point, I was filled with so much emotion that I couldn’t take in that story once more.










Other noticeable donations:

These dope Afro picks and how they contributed to assert public allegiance to the Black Power Movement.

Black Twitter gets a shout out!

As we emerged from the last underground level, we are greeted by a perky guide who encourages us to take a rest at Contemplative Court. And it was breathtaking! A waterfall in a circle from the ceiling of the room provided a relaxing room for meditation. The quotes on the wall were an inspirational touch after all that we had seen underground. It, for me, served as a theme of hope for what would be to come in the next few floors and the succession of our people. I was right.

The next few floors consisted of Black sports history, Black music history, and Black film and television history. Those floors were the best because they wove a tale of how far the race has come in times of adversity. Our story is one of overcoming any and every obstacle placed in our ways.

There is a restaurant on the last underground floor, it’s called the Sweet Home Cafe. It is a luncheon only cafeteria with four different types of food to offer: The Agricultural South station, the Creole Coast station, the North States, and the Western Range. It is usually very busy all the time, but the line tends to move fairly quickly.

Statue of John Carlos and Tommie Smith in what is known as the 1968 Olympics Black Power salute.

Trunks of Joe Frazier and Muhammad Ali and other paraphernalia from The Fight of The Century.

Costumes of the African American TV pioneers such as The Jeffersons and Good Times.

On the fifth floor, it’s a more interactive experience. There were touch screen walls around the perimeter of the room where kids could tap to learn about various things. There was also an interactive video which taught kids step routines and was reminiscent of a “Just Dance” video game. On the same floor, there was an office specifically there to help explore your family history and trace ancestral pasts. I didn’t get an opportunity to indulge, but the next time I return I will.

A look into the stereotypes against African Americans, such blackface and minstrelsy.

Video about the women of the Civil Rights Movement and their active role in making a change.

It was an absolutely amazing experience for my first visit to D.C. I do intend on coming back and experiencing the entire museum again because I’m sure that I missed plenty of pertinent or interesting information. To have seen and experienced this part of history during black history month means the most to me. Without even trying, I’m celebrating the month in some of the best ways. I cannot press how important it is for everyone to go and experience the museum for themselves.