Reflective Essay: The African American History Museum

Thought to contain a hundred years of one of the races of people that helped build and shape America as we know it. Being overlooked for centuries. IN 2003 Bush signed a law creating the African American history museum. It was one of the most educational and invigorating experiences of my life. Not many The museum is not only enlighten but enriching by capturing African American history in its entirety.
Standing in line at 9:13am the first person there all alone. But I did not feel alone. The glow of the pool illuminated by the first rays of sunshine reflecting off of it. As I stood at the main entrance, outside of this enormous building waiting for the 120 seconds that had to pass before I entered this structure immersed in my people’s history.
My walk through time began 70 ft. below ground. I was thrown back in time centuries to the Trans-Atlantic slave trade. First I was confronted with pieces of ships that were used to transport the slaves. Which at the time they were considered cargo

nothing but product. Knowing that this was just the beginning of their journey bought me comfort through my anger, hurt, and pain. As I b begin to feel shivers up my spin once I see the leather whip used aboard those same ships. In a flash I’m on the ship snatched from my home, they took my whole village, we are all chained together, the stench down in this cargo hold is overwhelming not sure if it’s the factious or the man chained next to me who’s been dead for three days and two nights. I was distracting by a girl crying while holding her father’s hand, asking him why they would do that to us daddy. Her father replied the most accurate answer I feel that was age appropriate, I don't know baby I don’t know. Knowing that this experience was impacting more than me and it would
Educate people for years gave me the strength to compose myself and continue in to my journey into my ancestry. No matter how heartbreak it may become. As I continued my shock was most likely apparent as I stood in awe of great people in history who actually owned slaves. There is a huge statue of Thomas Jefferson and behind him are all the names of his slaves. The America economy relied on slavery for cotton. The economy was built up on the cotton which the slaves picked. The museum has so many artifacts from slavery days such as Harriet Tubman’s clothing and Nat Turners' journal. Things that showed no matter the adversary there are those overcomers who become epic.
Once the civil war era begins I can really see the change in history as if I was in history myself. I’m walking through the war camps I see several black troops in a group singing hums relaxing. I approach them only to be told that if I anit got no food for them I should go on bought my business. Felling sadden I continue my stroll through the camp. I EVENTUALLY REACHED A GROUP OF WHITE SOLIDERS ENJOYING A MEAL OF BEANS AND BREAD. No questions asked I went to grab the kettle of beans and all the white soldiers ran to attack me but BLINK. There I was back inside the museum standing in front of a display breaking down the black and white solider pay and food ratios. What was this place doing to my mind? They have information on the black soldiers who were mistreated during the civil war. Sent to the front to die because their considered worthless, a horse was treated better.
As my journey through time continued I was confronted with the end of the civil war and the beginning of the civil rights movements. The end of the civil war did not quiet free my people it was the beginning of our long and hard fight for equality. This was actually televised. There were signs of segregation everywhere. Blacks were barred from using the same bathrooms, sitting at the same lunch counters, schools, buses. Anywhere that they could think of mostly thought of a very despicable man named Jim Crow. As I’m watching a screen that displays the story of Rudy bridges I’m transported again. Everyone saying be brave, good luck you got this. I’m so scared my palms are sweating what will happen to me. Am I going to be safe being the first little black girl going to a white school reeling through my head is terrifying me? I know I must be brave but I’m just a kid. I hug mommy for the last time as this nice policemen escort me up the steps there are people everywhere screaming at me and calling me names also there are cameras everywhere. I’m so afraid but I know I must be brave. I make it past all that screaming with the police protecting me and into the school. I know I just changed the world. The museum captured every single great leader of the civil rights movement that you ever heard of from Martin Luther King Jr. Rosa Parks. Also some names you didn’t know like Jamie lee Jackson whose death gave way to the voting rights act.
The museum contained many modern legacies’ also like both our great Michael’s Jackson and Jordan.

The museum also contains a pair of his famous shoes. There was a place filled with all the best of our music Jazz, gospel, R&B, oldies but goodies, hip-hop. It was beautiful breath-taking it made you feel like the best was yet to come. That no matter what people face and no I don’t just mean African Americans I mean the entire human race as a whole we preserve. Barrack Obama is so symbolic of this fact so of course he found his way into the museum being a big stepping stone for us. We are masters of our own destiny through all oppression; being mistreated, murdered, kidnapped, and enslaved we rose to power. In these ways I was enlighten and enriched by this museum knowing that a bad beginning only takes hard work and dedication and you can accomplish anything you set your mind to. Nothing is impossible, nothing is out of reach. The dream is really is only as big as the

dreamer.