This visit to the NCRM rounds out our observation of African American History Month, so I hope you might take a moment and reflect on some of what you encountered today: was this your first visit there? what did you learn? If you have visited before, how was today's visit different?
I can share that I noticed some of the modifications that had been made since my last visit several years ago--particularly the "I am a Man" exhibit devoted to the Sanitation Workers' Strike. It seemed that, in some ways, the preponderance of textual matter had been either reduced or re-presented in some ways. I found these modifications helpful in some ways--particularly in the way we are introduced to information. I also liked the interactive installations where one could push a button and hear the testimonies of select civil rights activists. What I disliked was the rather cramped atmosphere. Obviously a big crowd came out today, but before, there was considerably more room for movement. I cannot tell you how many times I had to say "Excuse me" as I inadvertently bumped into people.
Please note (if I haven't spoken to you already) that we will be meeting this Tuesday in the same classroom we've met in so far. We will go over the expectations for the "Reading Memphis" essay, as well as hit some high notes on the themes of our upcoming outing to Victorian Village.
I was so glad to see those who came out today! If you were not able to attend, please contact me at your earliest convenience.
Now. Let's hear you!
This was not my first visit to the museum, but I have not been there in a while. I learned so much. There is always something new you can learn when it comes to African American history; for example, I know about Rosa Parks and her contribution to equal rights by refusing to give up her seat to a white person on the bus, but I learned there were two other black females before her who refused to give up her seats named Claudette Colvin and Mary Louise Smith. I felt like a person personal to me was Dr. Julia Ann Cooper who was one of the first black women to earn a bachelors, masters, and doctorate degree, and she believed in college preparatory education which I believe is also important for future college students to have. I thought it was really interesting about African Americans having to mostly rely on black professionals, such as doctors, teachers, lawyers, etc. I loved the pictures of blacks and whites standing hand and hand, arm and arm and in integration. I felt myself get emotional while watching the film on the march in Selma. After seeing the troopers with no emotion, no heart just run over and beat the marchers like they were nothing really hurt me that I couldn’t even watch the rest. I also learned about Fayette County, Tennessee, where I grew up, that it was known as “tent city” because the African Americans were evicted from their homes because they registered to vote. They had to live in tents or makeshift shanties. Of course, I learned so much more. This visit was different from the last time because of the new exhibits. All I remembered was Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination exhibit.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for your thoughtful comment, Jaida. One thing to note also about some of the trailblazing women of the Civil Rights movement was that Ida B. Wells was also one who stood up to white power paradigms when she refused to give up her seat on an Ohio Railway train. I was also impressed that you mention Dr. Julia Ann Cooper--though I did not learn as much about her at the time, I remember coming across her name during my studies in graduate school. I also did not know about "tent city"! I'm ashamed to say it, but I didn't. In any case, I think this was a wonderfully educational trip for all.
DeleteThe last time I visited the National Civil Rights Museum was when I was in middle school. Now that I am older and more mature, the exhibits hit me much harder than when I was younger. At times I had to hold back tears while listening and reading the stories of the people who sacrificed their jobs, did jail time, and risked their lives for the freedom of others. Abdul Rahman Ibrahima was a West African prince, and even he was kidnapped and sold into slavery. Ernest Green, high school student, was asked to not attend graduation because of the fear that other students or parents would retaliate and cause a disturbing scene. I also learned about the Sit-in Movement, executed by the Rockhill 9. They did this for one whole year, and were consistently arrested. Each time, they would pay their bail and go back to doing the same thing that got them there. After some time, they decided, "Jail, no bail," because they were tired of giving their money to a corrupt system. The people who demonstrated this were Willie Edward McCleod, James Frank Wells, Clarence Henner Grahm, David "Scoop" Williamson, Robert Lewis McClullough, Mack Carter Workman, Willie Thomas "Dub" Massey, John Alexander Gaines, Charles Edward Taylor, and CORE organizer, Tom Gaither. While I have been learning about the history of the Civil Rights movement since I was in elementary school, it is always good to brush up on the details, the things that slip away as time passes. In these troubling times, it is good to remember our history so we can prevent the repetition of tragedy.
ReplyDeleteGeorge Santayana remarked, "those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." This quote holds true now more than ever, I think, in these tense political and social times. You are right to point that out. Also, you make a good point about seeing this history through more mature eyes. Going through the paces of learning about an historical event once is just not enough. As we age, we have more to draw on, and I think it's important to always remain teachable.
DeleteI think as we went to our outing that day everything lend itself to our experience. Maybe we would have looked at it all differently had it been a sunny day or had there been less people. I do not know if the days any of the marches took place were gloomy but I know that in the hearts of many of the people there in that time there was an overcast of worries. We as a group did not know if we would come out to rainy skies and they did not know if their tomorrows would continue to rain; but they marched on. I think my favorite part was the road they built on a few stretches of the museum and how packed it was that day because it felt like everyone there was marching along together. There was no sense of individual groups we were all integrated together weaving through each other in the hopes to learn about the people who made it possible to do so.
ReplyDeleteIt was a big crowd on the day I visited the National Civil Right Museum. The spectators were from toddlers to geriatrics that represent Tennessee and other cities and states.I was walking down the path in the Museum. The first scene that caught my eyes was the yellow bus. It was the bus where Rosa Parks experienced being ordered to leave the front seat and moved to the back of the bus. Rosa Parks refused to move. She had the choice to sit where she wanted. The demonstration led by Martin Luther King, Jr. advised his followers to be non-violent at rally. It was Mahatma Gandhi's idea for non-violent demonstration. Martin Luther King, Jr. wrote a letter in the jailhouse of Birmingham, Alabama with emphasis on the problems with segregation between black and white Americans in the society. President J. F. Kennedy got involved with the fight to end the segregation. The black Americans had to face the most violent act during the Selma Project, a bloody civil war. It shows the most blood shed that black Americans encounter during a peaceful demonstration. On August 6, 1965, President L. B. Johnson signed the Right to vote Act for black Americans. It was a great deal in the politics that black American men could have the right to vote. I thought after all these struggles like: the fight to stop segregation, the right for freedom of choice, and the right to vote would solve the differences between black and white communities. Black Americans acquired the privileges to vote and gained freedom of choice, but problems still exist. Black and white Americans still have disagreements because of colors. This issue needs more education to solve the problems in the society.
ReplyDeleteOur class trip to the National Civil Rights Museum was my first. I spent at least two and a half hours in the museum, I wanted to read every little text block, examine every artifact, and see where each photo was taken. I feel as though one needs an ENTIRE day to truly soak up everything there. I found that I was drawn to the section pertaining to James Meredith. I lived in Oxford, Mississippi for three years and was a sophomore at Oxford High School the year that the group of frat boys laid the noose over the James Meredith statue. I remember feeling so disgusted and so embarrassed to have been living there. It is so odd to live in a place where racism to that degree is taking place, where people decide to desecrate a statue of someone so incredibly brave and resilient. Also, I don't think that I had ever heard of James Meredith prior to living in Oxford. I remember my world history teacher explaining the entire, rigorous process that Meredith went through in order to gain admission into Ole Miss. Those feelings of disgust that I felt my sophomore year of high school came back to me as I read Meredith's letter at the National Civil Rights Museum and remembered back to the idiocy of the group of those particular frat boys.
ReplyDeleteCold, Sorrow, and some pride, these are the initial feelings I received when I entered the Civil Rights Museum. I was happy to see the museums many strives in its cosmetic and educational make over. Prior to my recent visits to the Civil Rights Museum I had been in a while, the last time I was there it still looked like the Lorraine Motel in which Dr. King was assassinated but lacked the glimmer of an actual museum. With the new renovations it gave the museum the appearance it deserved. The section of the museum that affected me the most is the wall in which there’s a picture frame and caption of how racism claimed another life. After viewing this room, it was hard for me to contain my tears, all the sorrow sank to gut.
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