Sierra Kay
Arts & Entertainment
Sierra Kay
Historical Inspiration : Lessons from the National Museum of African American History and Culture
Gazing at the recently opened National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington , D . C ., I didn ’ t know what to expect . The museum chronicles the African American narrative in the United States from slavery to present day . That is a topic wrought with triumphs and accomplishments , as well as with oppression and suppression .
To this day , conversations about the African American experience are peppered with words like inherent bias in the criminal justice system , community violence and lost generations . But like the building before me , whose outer structure does not reflect that same white facade of other Smithsonian buildings , the African American experience is complex and varied .
The outer structure of this particular building mimics exquisite ironwork created by slaves . Beauty crafted by chained hands in a country where voting rights for African Americans are given in an act that has to be reauthorized by Congress instead of granted by the very nature of being born on American soil or naturalized as a citizen of this country .
Yet the contributions from African Americans which have strengthened the fabric of this very nation are undeniable . It ’ s also undeniable that there are those who view the color variation in African American skin as an indication of inferiority instead of just one of the hues of humanity .
So standing outside , I hesitated because I didn ’ t know what emotions would prevail as I ’ m faced with the duality of this collective history . As I walk through the galleries , I ’ m surprised to find myself uplifted and energized .
Given the odds that have been stacked against some of the greatest African American leaders , it ’ s truly amazing that they were able to accomplish anything . Their stories aren ’ t just passed down in an oral tradition ; they ’ re curated in this building . That shouldn ’ t be amazing , but it is .