Many years ago I lived in Saigon, Vietnam now known as Ho Chi Minh City. I had a Chinese tailor who made many beautiful suits for me. We often talked at my fittings and when I would come to pick up my suits and eventually I discovered what she really thought about me. One day while I was walking down the street in Saigon I noticed my tailor ride by in her car and she didn’t stop to pick me up even though it was very hot. I confronted my tailor about not picking me up a few days later and she sternly replied ” no can do !”I told her that I had two cars in America and both of them were better than hers and she angrily replied that I was not telling the truth and that a black man living in America has nothing, no money, no land, no property, nothing, at least that’s what she was told. It was then that it dawned on me how misrepresented African Americans really are globally. The National Museum of African American History and Culture goes a long way towards authenticating the lives of African Americans.

A few months ago I traveled to Washington D.C. to tour our” National Museum of African American History and Culture”. This Smithsonian Museum’s beautiful building is located on Constitution Avenue N.W., and was booming with visitors from seemingly all nations and all walks of life. There are security services and tour guides stationed throughout the building that are more than willing to assist visitors as they move through the ramped, multi -leveled, spacious, circular, wheelchair accessible edifice, and souvenirs can be purchased from a delightful museum store to help mark this historic visit. This very interesting tour of the museum begins when you enter and walk into the Concourse room which features “Sweet Home Café “, and a Theater. Proceed on to the entrance to the “Contemplative Court” and “History Galleries “(C1-C3). C3 is titled “Slavery and Freedom 1400-1877 “. This gallery features statues, written comments, and information on how African slaves were dispersed throughout Europe and the world, actual artifacts, to include slave handcuffs and shackles and audio/visual displays dating from chattel slavery’s beginning through the Civil War. History Gallery C2 is titled ” Defending Freedom, Defining Freedom: The Era of Segregation 1876 – 1968. This exhibit features numerous sights and discussions of the ” Jim Crow Era ” to include an actual railroad car, and a portion of a Florida prison tower that was in use during segregation, an interactive Lunch Counter which shows excerpts of Civil Rights clashes with police and American citizens, the Emmett Till Memorial, a Tuskegee Airplane, and other audio/visual displays relative to this time period. C1 is titled ” A changing America: 1968 And Beyond “and features exhibitions relative to the events of 1968 to include Audio/visual displays of some of the marches of the Civil Rights Movement. Level one (i.e. L1) is titled “Heritage Hall “, and features an information counter and a museum store. L2 features classrooms, a library, an interactive gallery, and center for African American Media Arts and an Explore Your Family History Center. L3 is titled “Community Galleries” and features audio/visuals on sports, Making a Way out of No Way “, and “The African American Military Experience.” L4 features audio/visuals on ” Visual Arts and the American Experience “, ” Musical Crossroads “, ” Cultural Expressions “, and ” Taking the Stage .” With all displays considered the National Museum of African American History and Culture provides a day’s outing that is both informative and entertaining so teachers, civic organizations, tour guides, and others interested in American history and are seeking a truly memorable tour, put on some comfortable attire and make your way to our nation’s capital to experience the thought provoking, and eye opening “National Museum of African American History and Culture”.