A Tale of Three Museums
RAP BATTLES, WEDDING RINGS AND HYMNS
The past week has been ringing in my head. The Underground railroad museum in Ohio is first up to bat. Multiple floors of history on top of what used to be "Little Africa". Overlooking the city is the bridge that connects Ohio and Kentucky. Before the bridge, the enslaved used to swim across the river into freedom or wait for the winter months to cross along the ice. This museum featured videos, interactive trails , and vivid images/sculptures of what we should expect from this era. Moving along to Tennessee, we get to see the National Museum of African American Music. The more modern museum encompassed every genre, artist, and style you could imagine. The museums talked about everything from the spirituals to modern day hiphop and rap. A part of the museum that I found to be both unique and educational were the wristband/bracelets that they gave out to viewers. With this bracelet you could save any artist, song, and information that you enjoyed/wanted to dig deeper into. Last but not least was the National Museum of African American History and culture . This was surprisingly the museum that I enjoyed the most. Although the museum carried heavy emotions, it was the most meaningful and informative in my eyes. We saw everything from train cars to the sit in counter. This museum was interactive in interesting ways. When looking at the sit in counter, you can actually sit in an exact replica and learn about the different ways they practiced nonviolent protest. This museum was unique in the fact that it showed parts of history you don't usually see in textbooks or hear about in school. When looking around the exhibits I found a section on marriage. During slavery, slaves were not allowed to get married, even if they were members of the church. In the case were three objects. 1) A makeshift wedding ring, 2) A book of wedding records and 3) a pendant with the only priest that would (secretly and unofficially) marry an enslaved couple. In this museum I also visited the Harriet Tubman exhibit in which there were pictures, a handkerchief , and a book of hymns. I was told previously that Tubman could not read or write, and later did my own research which provided the same result. I now wonder that if she could at least read the music. She was known for using song as a way to guide slaves to freedom. Ultimately each museum brought a different perspective and new information to its viewers.
I also enjoyed the National Museum of African American History and Culture the most. It was the most expansive of the three, and it went into depth about every facet of African American life. It was both solemn and empowering. I left feeling like a better informed person and have a need to further expand on the knowledge I gained there.
ReplyDeleteNoelia, I completely agree with you that the National Museum of African American History and Culture was an incredibly meaningful and informative experience. It was truly remarkable to see the artifacts and stories that were preserved in the museum, and to be able to interact with them. The train cars were particularly powerful for me. It was a stark reminder of the horrors of the transatlantic slave trade, and the courage of those who endured it. Overall, the National Museum of African American History and Culture was an incredibly meaningful and informative experience. It was a reminder of the struggles and triumphs of African Americans, and the power of nonviolent protest. It was also a reminder of the resilience of African Americans, and how they were able to survive and thrive despite the odds.
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