Bentley and I went to the African American History in Detroit today... it's only about 5 minutes from our home. The museum is quite well done. (Although I am not a connosseiur of museums).
The history of African Americans is a very difficult one to "experience." Firstly, I get that I will never get it. And although I was at a museum experiencing the rooms and reading about the history I get that it's something I won't understand the same as an African American.
The museum has a part where you go through what would've been the bottom of a slave ship and there are slaves tied together and they're crying out. And the documents talk about how you could smell a slave ship from extreme distances.... and once a slave ship, always a slave ship because of the filth and smells. Then they land in the US and there's this young woman holding her baby and the people are asking, "Does the baby come with the mother?" "Well, I am not sure.... let's see what it says... Yes, the baby comes with the mother. Let's start the bidding.... 15 pounds for the mother and baby. She'll make a great asset to your home..."
And the museum continues with the history... which I guess I don't need to explain because we all learned it in school.... but I will say a museum has a way of making you deal with the pain of our history. And I can't imagine holding my Bentley all alone in a country where I am the only white girl, listening to a language I don't understand, wearing clothes I have never seen before.... as I am auctioned off to a family... and the separation from my son that lies in the future is too much to imagine.
So not only am I going through this museum in Detroit.... where I am usually the only white person... in the grocery store, at the YMCA, driving down the street, etc...
But I am the only white girl in a museum dedicated to helping African Americans remember where they came from... a history full of pain and separation from everything they knew and or loved... And so here I am reading and watching the videos and walking down "the street" in this museum feeling so much pain for these people.... and when the African Americans are walking by me or watching the same video of MLK Jr giving a speech I want to apologize.... and obviously it's much too late and I don't personally have a reason to be sorry.... but I am.
It's a very difficult experience. Especially as someone with the gift of mercy... I want to experience your pain with you.... and I know this is a pain that I can't really experience because my ancestors were the reason for your pain.
The beauty of it all is that Christ has come and restored the pain....a concept I have a very very difficult time wrapping my brain around. He's already restored the tension between black and whites and it's up to us to live into that truth and to embrace one another as brothers and sisters in Christ.
Obviously a big part of us living in Detroit is to walk into that truth and to love people here.... but in order to fully love them it was important for me to be reminded of their very difficult and painful history.
And so I experienced it. And I would love to take anyone who visits us through the museum. And I will pray for the restoration of this city... and that the hatred and pain would be killed with love and understanding. And that unity would reign.
4 comments:
I enjoyed reading about how you were able to make some personal connections between yourself and African mothers sold into slavery. I'd love to visit that museum with you!I do take issue with the term "African American" though. If you're interested in why, this article pretty much sums it up: thestrategicretreat.com/why-i-hate-the-term-african-american/
That term was something I started questioning in high school, but I never could support my reasoning. In college, I heard a lecture that confirmed what I was thinking. Over the years, I've talked to a lot of black people about it, and every one seems to be on the same page. It's an interesting conversation nonetheless!
Funny you write that! My friend from college was Haitian and he hated being called African American.... actually because the museum used AA I followed in suite.... but I do usually say black because I understand the reasoning....
anyway... thanks for posting!
Well, I'm glad you get it, because not everyone does. PS- Did you change your alias?
great thought-provoking post! Thank you.
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