Not too much on the slavery, my guy!

  From the September newsletter….

 The National Museum of African American History and Culture (affectionately called the Blacksonian by myself and others) has been told by the current administration to tone down the slavery talk and add more uplifting stories. Do they have a point?

Well, we (Americans) do have a problem engaging the historical record.

We've always had trouble forming and holding collective memories that embrace the historical complexities we share as a nation. Human brains crave an easy-to-understand storyline, a clear villain and innocent victims. Engaging the realities of individual and collective human interaction, triumph and suffering is very difficult to understand and hold, especially against the backdrop of our Western, North American myths and legends.

But we can do it. We have to bring our full humanity to the process.

We can engage our past and present more fully when we engage the humanity of those that came before us. We engage their humanity more thoroughly by engaging our own humanity with our whole selves - body, mind and heart.

How?

Pausing to feel wonder, sadness, awe, disgust and hope. Asking what happened before and after the day listed in the exhibit tied to the moment preserved in time. Tying stories together and seeing how just like you and I, these people whose names somehow survived the anonymity of history showed up in honorable ways and destructive ways. Approaching the NMAAHC as a pilgrimage does just that - engages your senses, so you can engage the humanity and fullness of stories then and now.

So how do you treat a museum like a pilgrimage?

Well, it helps to have a guide. And I’m so obsessed with the Blacksonian that I wrote that guide for the Blacksonian. The Stony Road Pilgrimage, will help you approach this beautiful and challenging museum (the lower three floors) as a pilgrimage alone, with a companion or a group. The guide is only $10 and is available as a download through Christians for Social Action*. You can also download an excerpt for free.

I’d love to know your experience. Email me and let me know how your pilgrimage goes.

*This project was funded by my work as a Racial Justice Fellow for Christians for Social Action. As someone raised in and theologically trained in Christian traditions, it has Christian influences but I consciously wrote for accessability, regardless of religious belief or non-belief.