Unit III American History I "PowerPoint"

72 AMERICAN HISTORY72 AMERICAN HISTORY …home to many museums, now has one honoring the African di- aspora. Hailing countless efforts to save and share black history, President Barack Obama dedi- cated the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture in 2016. The 37,000 exhibits, some of them objects families preserved for generations, demand multiple return visits. Artifacts marking famed, obscure, and ignored contributions evoke nostalgia and pride. The record of lives lost to and broken by injustice kindles anger and sadness. The layout is epic. Lead architect David Adjaye’s structure sug- gests Yoruba crowns from Ghana, his homeland. Inside, a glass-walled elevator descends to the 1400s, when the African slave trade began. The ensuing climb implies African-Ameri- cans’ ascent toward equality and showcases their myriad achieve- ments. Upper floors focus on the modern, from breakthroughs in art, science, and technology to dance steps. The final display features Obama’s 2009 inaugu- ration—a guidepost to progress and the miles of work ahead. —Rasheeda Smith is associate editor of American History Washington, DC… Finely Wrought Silk and linen shawl given to Harriet Tubman by Queen Victoria of England. LEFT: THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY AND CULTURE ARCHITECTURAL PHOTO BY ALAN KARCHMER; RIGHT: COLLECTION OF THE SMITHSONIAN NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY AND CULTURE Copyright ofAmerican Historyisthe property ofHistorynet LLCanditscontent maynotbe copied oremailed tomultiple sitesorposted toalistserv without thecopyright holder's express writtenpermission. However,usersmayprint, download, oremail articles for individual use.