24 I SALAMANDER 2024 |
laid shackled in the holds of ships once anchored in nearby Charleston Harbor . As the tide changes , the shapes of those it honors are hidden and revealed , emphasizing the fluidity of the past , present and future .
NOT JUST A “ SLAVERY MUSEUM ” Too often , when people use or hear the phrase “ the African American experience ,” it translates to “ slavery .” And while that is certainly an important and needed focus of the museum , it is – by far – not the only one . Instead , the IAAM documents the entire African American experience , from the days of enslavement and the fight for freedom to present day achievements and contributions of the African American community and America itself . Each
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exhibit in its 11 galleries is a chapter in a larger narrative , a story that refuses to be defined solely by adversity but rather shaped by the profound strength that emanates from resilience .
“ People are not defined by their circumstances alone ,” Pryor-Martin says . “ We don ’ t stop being human beings merely because we ’ re facing difficulty . People fall in love . They build families . It ’ s under harrowing conditions , but they do it nonetheless .” So , while the dark history of the slave trade is certainly on display , in various mediums , so is the story of a people whose spirit could not be broken , who embraced life , family , community , even while under great oppression and , in so doing , shaped the American experience as much as America shaped theirs . The museum goes beyond the surface of
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historical accounts and delves into the very essence of humanity – the stories of love , resilience and the unyielding determination to build meaningful lives despite the challenges faced .
In so doing , says Pryor-Martin , visitors leave not just with a deeper understanding of the history and culture of a people , but with probing , meaningful questions anyone can relate to . “ What does it compel and inspire someone to do when they ’ re fighting for the people they love ? What does it look like when the concept of love is expanded to community ? What is someone willing to do when they believe in the unequivocal right of their neighbor and their brother or sister to be free and to be treated and identified as human beings ?” she asks .
These are not just the questions for
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