Overdue

     

(Photo: National Museum of African American History and Culture - the banner, from 1924, featured the motto of the Oklahoma Federation of Colored Women's Clubs)

CULTURAL CELEBRATION: Earlier today, a former co-worker texted me to let me know about a broadcast tonight on TV, "Taking the Stage."

I didn't know what it was about at all, but I know my friend, and if she told me to watch it, it would be worth it!

I searched the Internet and found out that show was on ABC at 9 p.m. our time, so we tuned in. It turns out the show was in honor of the Smithsonian’s new National Museum of African American History and Culture.              

When I told the kids what the celebration was about, Annabelle was aghast, asking why in the world it took until NOW to have a national museum showcasing African Americans' contributions and stories.

Good question. LONG overdue, IMHO.

The two-hour special we watched tonight was   taped last September at Washington DC's John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, paid homage to African Americans' cultural impact through dance, spoken word and musical performances. The show was fantastic, and prompted us to want to learn about the new museum.                     

From what we've read, the museum has 40,000 objects in its collection, 4,000 of which will live in the museum. 

The artifacts are varied. They include everything from Michael Jackson's iconic fedora (think "Billie Jean") ...

to an 80-plus-ton segregation-era Southern Railway car, which was so big, that the museum had to be built around it.                      

 One of the more touching moments of the "Taking the Stage" broadcast was when the seven surviving Tuskegee Airmen came on stage. The group of African-American military pilots fought in World War II, officially forming the 332nd Fighter Group and the 477th Bombardment Group of the United States Army Air Forces.  One of their planes is on display at the new museum.

I'd love to visit this museum in person some day.