After walking through the section dealing with the Middle Passage and entering a great hall , there is mention of Phillis Wheatley . How does someone like Phillis Wheatley even exist ? Slaves weren ’ t supposed to read or write . She read , wrote , and published the first African American book of poetry .
Frederick Douglass was another author featured in the museum who defied expectation . During the era of slavery , African Americans were depicted as less mentally capable than other Americans . Yet , Frederick Douglass escaped slavery and became a best-selling author . He didn ’ t just write for a few close friends , but shined as a beacon bright as the North Star to challenge common thought of the limitations of African Americans . Going through corridors filled with tributes to the likes of Maya Angelou , Oprah Winfrey , Malcolm X , Dr . Martin Luther King , Jr . as well as former President and author Barack Obama , brought reminders of the limitless potential that I too possess . Despite , and because of , the struggles that we and / or those before us were forced to endure , as Maya Angelou stated , “ Still I rise .”
The National Museum of African American History and Culture is an all day excursion . Get your tickets ( they are free , but sold out months ahead of time ), make travel arrangements and make it happen . Now , what everyone takes from the experience is dependent on the lens through which they are viewing those exhibits . However , one way or another , everyone will be moved .