Here at Slaydon’s Travel one of our core values is to enable and inspire people to experience and explore the world. We can only accomplish that if the world is inclusive and safe for all, not some. There is a lot of work to be done. We are here to stand in solidarity, listen, educate and advocate for equality.
Those of you who have spent any time discussing a trip to Washington, DC with me in the past several years know of my love for the National Museum of African American History and Culture. In my opinion it is a must for any trip to DC. It is the most well planned museum I’ve visited anywhere in the world. I’ll share a bit this week about some of my experiences there and encourage you to visit, or revisit when you have the opportunity.
The first time I was able to visit the museum was back in September of 2017, with my daughter, who was 9 at the time, my husband and my brother. Luckily, my brother is an architect in DC and while we were waiting to enter he was able to point out some of the symbolism in the architecture. The building itself is shaped like a three tiered corona, a tribute to West African Art. It is wrapped in an intricate iron lattice which lets in daylight. According to the museum website, “The openness to light is symbolic for a museum that seeks to stimulate open dialogue about race and help promote reconciliation and healing.”
Once inside the museum we took the elevator down to the lowest floor, where the timeline begins. We had the pleasure of following an off duty docent who was visiting with friends. She took a few minutes to explain how the museum was laid out and a little bit of the background about the timeline. I will admit that with a 9 year old by my side that I was not able to move at my own pace. There is a beautiful contemplative fountain, where the two of us spent a lot of time once we reached the cafe level waiting for the others. We eventually made our way upstairs to view the community and culture galleries.
I’ve had the opportunity to revisit twice more, and am still trying to catch a docent tour. Certainly seeing the museum itself is an educational experience, but nothing can replace the first hand knowledge that an expert can share.
The museum has been closed since mid-March due to the pandemic. However, there are exhibits you can explore on their website. There is also a “learn” link on the website with some fantastic resources.