Sunday, November 20, 2016

A Most Powerful Declaration!




Filigree Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture  
Photography by Meera Rao

Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
Photography by Meera Rao  

Collage of Photos by Meera Rao 

The new Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture is a must see for all ! Last week after a day spent at the museum,  my worries for the future feels differently in light of the faith, hope and resilience that is packed in the deeply moving exhibits. As the New York times article filled with photos of the museum eloquently puts it  : "In the spirit of Langston Hughes’s poem “I, Too,” their message is a powerful declaration: The African-American story is an American story, as central to the country’s narrative as any other, and understanding black history and culture is essential to understanding American history and culture."  

I, too, sing America.

I am the darker brother.
They send me to eat in the kitchen
When company comes,
But I laugh,
And eat well,
And grow strong.

Tomorrow,
I'll be at the table
When company comes.
Nobody'll dare
Say to me,
"Eat in the kitchen,"
Then.

Besides,
They'll see how beautiful I am
And be ashamed--

I, too, am America. 

Langston Hughes

4 comments:

padmaja said...

Very nice and profound Meera, thanks for sharing. I will keep this museum in mind, I am visiting there in march!

Meera Rao said...

Thank you Padmaja! Hope you will contact me with dates you are going to be in DC -- I am often in DC - may be we can meet in person then :)

M R Anand said...

Thanks for you comment on my blog for "sunshine". I hope your exhibition was well recd in Sep..best wishes. Always happy to visit you blog..it is so full of energy!

Meera Rao said...

@Madabhusi Raman Anand, Thank you so very much! Your generous comment is a much needed encouragement to stick to posting on my blog :) I really appreciate you taking the time to stop by!

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