A day like no other

As I pay my $5 admission fee, I comment, "It is so awesome you make this museum affordable for everyone." The attendee smiles, "That is the whole point. Anyone and everyone can learn about this part of our history barely taught in our country." I walk on the small trolley bus, which travels several blocks before arriving at the entrance of the National Memorial for Peace and Justice. There are several groups of elementary age school children in the front actively participating in conversations with their tour guide. Walking past them, I enter, only to stop immediately at what is in front of me.

I slowly circle around this display of slavery, intently looking at the anguished expressions on each face and the actions of each individual. On the other side of the walkway are narratives detailing the origins, history and brutal attempts of trying to end slavery in our country. Many emotions ignite within me as I try to take all of this in this morning. I walk up the winding path and enter the outdoor arena. I stand in the midst of over 800 6-foot hanging from the ceilings. Endless rows surround me from all angles. I look closer at each, seeing many names and some listed “Unknown” with a date underneath.

Displayed are over 4,400 black men, women and children who were hanged in our country because of their skin color.  Each 6-foot tablet represents every county in the US where lynching occurred between the years of 1877 to 1950.  Yes, 1950.

It is a most sad day for me as I attempt to take in all that I am witnessing and learning as I read name after name.  I remind myself each name was a person who thought, dreamed and possibly had family.  As I finally walk away, I stop at each exiting memorial inscription reading slowly the words of truth, justice and hope for the future.   

As I return to the Legacy Museum on the same trolley bus, I am trying to process it all.  The next two hours I am moving from room to room full of 100's of beautiful pieces of art, news clippings and actual photos sharing the history of blacks in our country.  Many rooms offer cutting edge technology where one can engage in holographic conversations with actual descendants of slaves.  The room which affected me the most houses over 800 jars of soil gathered at lynching locations throughout our country.  I end my day short as I am emotionally exhausted with this experience today.  This is a day I will always remember.

(By the way, there are no photos of the Legacy Museum as no cameras were allowed.)