National Museum of African American History

Within essays on African American history the review of the National Museum of African American History and Culture is discussed.  Located on the intersection of 14th Street and Constitution Avenue in Washington DC, the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture is one of the most culture-rich places I have ever heard the honor of visiting. From the outside part of the museum to the works of art displayed inside, virtually every element of the museum tells a story, a story of a people united by their past struggles, bright future, rich culture, and a history that would serve everyone right to remember. The design of the building's exterior incorporates three volumes stacked on top of each other with each of the volumes being covered in perforated metallic plates in patterns that documents within the museum argue that they reference the historical craftsmanship of African Americans. The design is inspired by tiered construction designs that have traditionally been employed by different communities in West Africa. The building in itself, which is located at the heart of the capital of the United States, the National Mall, employs a design that embodies decades of hard work that went into the contentious political discussions, planning, rejection, and eventual implementation of the project. 

The building design is beautiful, and both its interiors and exteriors were designed to capture the essence of the time-old American discussion of race and identity. It is very difficult to secure same-day on-site tickets for the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, and, therefore, many people that visited had bought their tickets some time in advance. We decided to go as soon as the ticketing office opened and scrambled for the few available on site to secure our entry into the museum. The entry of the building is clouded by some form of darkness that carries heavy symbolic weight, but as one goes through to other displays within the museum, the paths become more illuminated, which provides the visitor with an emotional experience of the struggle and optimism of the African American community over the years. From the museum's building, one can view the White House, as well as memorials and monuments of Martin Luther King Jr., Abraham Lincoln, and major icons whose work and contributions towards the culture and history of African Americans can be seen inside the museum. Though this museum certainly had different exhibits than what can be seen at the National Archives, I would consider the visit to the African American Museum an enriching experience too. The visit ultimately allowed me to have a better understanding of the journey the enslaved people in the United States went through.

The art on display in the museum details the history of African Americans dating back to more than five centuries ago, and, therefore, the art has been divided into several sections with each section representing different eras including 'Slavery and Freedom 1400 to 1877', 'Defending Freedom, Defining Freedom: The Era of Segregation 1876 to 1968' and 'A Changing America: 1968 and Beyond' among others. In ‘A Changing America’ exhibit, I was able to see unique artifacts that allowed me to better understand the vast contributions that African American’s contributions to American culture. What most caught my attention was how intact the objects displayed throughout this exhibit were, but most importantly, I found myself intrigued by the story behind a black jacket engraved with a symbol for black power. This jacket was of significant relevance during the time and therefore, allowed for a more complete experience of the exhibit. The National Museum of African American History and Culture boasts of a huge and diverse collection of tens of thousands of historically and culturally relevant pieces that provide extensive details of how the culture and history of African Americans have evolved over the years in the United States. Some of the pre-20th-century pieces that are on display at the museum were excavated from different African countries from where African American ancestors were sold as slaves, which contextualizes how extensive the art curators in this museum have been in their quest to document virtually every aspect of African Americans’ Culture and History.

In the museum, I was able to view some of the exhibitions that have been curated exclusively to celebrate some of the most iconic African American figures such as a Harriet Tubman, a very famous abolitionist. Such exhibits allowed me to have a better understanding of the role women played in the underground railroad and the road to abolishing slavery. Similarly, to what we saw at the Suffragettes exhibit at the National Archives, it is evident that the museum curators made sure to highlight the role of women in history, something I really appreciated. On a different note, the different tiers of the museum and the arrangement of different pieces has been implemented in such a way that the bottom half of the museum contains pieces that represent the history of African Americans, while the upper part contains pieces that represent the culture of African Americans. This arrangement is in itself symbolic because it represents how the history of African Americans has shaped their culture over the years. For the artifacts that were currently on view, their exhibitions were interactive which made them both informative and entertaining for anyone keen on exploring African American culture through different tiers of history.

The National Museum of African American History and Culture is a well throughout out space, filled with stories and objects that allow for a more complete narrative of African American’s journey in the United States. Not only is the place breathtaking and exciting to explore, but it provides a rich collection of African American artifacts that tell stories about their culture and history, and how they have been informed and shaped by different global influences over the years. From the museum's building design to the selected exhibitions that were on display during my visit, one could see the hardships and obstacles African Americans have had to overcome. At the museum, I was able to appreciate and gage the resiliency, spirituality, and optimism that helped African Americans to navigate the overtly intolerant American past, and in the process, shape their culture and history.