The museum holds more than 3,000 artifacts – with many contributed from ordinary Americans from across the country. Sam Brownback of Kansas, now the state’s Republican governor, to usher legislation through Congress. President George W. Bush signed it into law in 2003.
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President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama opened the new Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture on the National Mall by ringing a bell from a historic African-American church on Saturday afternoon. A great nation does not hide from its history, Bush said, “it faces its flaws and corrects them”.
Concerts Saturday and Sunday will feature performances from Living Colour, Public Enemy, The Roots and Meshell Ndegeocello.
Former Secretary of State Colin Powell arrives for today’s dedication ceremony at the Smithsonian Museum of African American History and Culture on the National Mall in Washington, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016.
“I’m so happy to see that so many people of color are coming out together just to celebrate themselves and one another”, said 50-year-old Derek Jones, who ventured from NY to attend Saturday’s celebration that included music, poetry and dancing.
“While the journey has been long, today the history of African Americans will finally take its place on the National Mall next to the monuments to Washington, Lincoln, and Jefferson-exactly where it belongs. That´s the American story that this museum tells”.
The matriarch, Ruth, the 99 year old daughter of a runaway slave turned doctor, pulled the rope in the arms of a President, to sound the bell from the First Baptist Church in Williamsburg, which was founded under a grove of trees in 1776. Oprah Winfrey and Will Smith spoke at the ceremony.
Black veterans of the US Civil War first proposed an African-American museum in 1915.
IObama said the museum’s exhibits on the fight against racial discrimination and segregation could provide context for current movements against police brutality.
The first black president of the United States cut the ribbon to inaugurate the striking 400,000-square-foot (37,000-square-meter) bronze-clad edifice before thousands of spectators gathered in the USA capital to witness the historic opening, at a time of growing racial friction. As we learn and confront this history together, we can begin to build one inclusive, and truly democratic family – the American family. It will return to the church for its 240th anniversary later this year. They were joined by civil rights icon Congressman John Lewis of Georgia, and museum founding director Lonnie Bunch.
Construction was completed earlier this year on the 400,000-square-foot museum designed by British-Ghanaian architect David Adjaye. The bronze-colored tiles are inspired by 19th century ironwork created by slaves in the South, and allow sunlight into the museum through its patterns. He asked if he was sick and the man said, “No” He said he was just overjoyed that he lived long enough to see the birth of this museum.
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