mood: specifically kendrick lamar’s verse in “babylon” by sza
The National Museum of African American History and Culture opened this weekend and thanks to Twitter, I was able to get glimpses of the exhibits without the long lines at the museum or at the airports I would have had to move through to get there.
The building, which began construction in February 2012, features architecture that was influenced by the three-tiered crowns used in Yoruban art in West Africa. The museum might be the new kid on the block, but the idea of one is old enough to scream, “GET OFF MY LAWN” to passersby.
In 1915, African American veterans of the Civil War proposed a museum and a memorial be dedicated in Washington. Our former fearless leader Calvin Coolidge signed a bill for a memorial, but you know, The Great Depression and stuff. The idea of an African American history museum came up again in the 1960s and ’70s, but didn’t have enough support from Congress. Yet another curveball was thrown to the museum in the ’80s, but Congress finally passed the law authorizing it in 2003. After more than a decade of curating artifacts, we have this beauty:
The NMAAHC is located steps away from the Washington Monument. Photo credit: NMAAHC
Of course you’ll find things like teapots and artifacts from a shipwreck involving a slave ship transporting Africans across the Atlantic, but that’s not the only focus. Judging by some of the posts I’ve seen on Twitter, the stories told in the museum have range.
Seeing this got me thinking: what would I like to see in the NMAAHC? I’ve created a list:
1.) Them "Crank Dat" Boys
It’s not likely that you were a teenager in 2007 and didn’t see these amazing guys in their amazing mix-matched deck of card shirts doing some of the year’s most viral dance moves. They added so much to the culture that if there isn’t an exhibition for them in the museum, there ought to be.
2.) The little girl who was like Serena Williams
This little girl and her smirk are both national treasures. A video of her talking about her tennis moves and how they’re very similar to tennis legend Serna Williams went viral last year. She inspired me to be the Serena Williams of as many things as I can. To add to it, she’s wearing a “My aunt is an AKA” shirt and since AKA, which stands for Alpha Kappa Alpha, was the first black Greek sorority for collegiate women founded in the United States. History on top of history. Needless to say, my snack game is on Serena Williams circa 2013.
3.) Bead on braids
Speaking of Serena Williams, hers and Venus’s beaded braids were an iconic display of black excellence. We must always pay homage to them for this because they changed the game forever. I mean tennis and fashion. The curators should definitely do all they can to get their hands on any of the Williams sisters’ beads that may sill be lying around.
4.) Tiffany Pollard
She was instrumental in solidifying sleazy reality television's existence and she's super quotable. No further explanation is needed, just a spotlight in the house.
5.) The Swag Surf
Nothing unites black people like a good ol’ Swag Surf. This is a cultural tradition that has forged many a bond stronger than the one between two hydrogen atoms. In times of high stress and unrest, it has also been a source of light and comfort. Give it an exhibit.
6.) These young ladies
Last January, Chanelle and Ti'ler competed against two other best friend groups for the chance to win some serious cash. Not only did they win the main game, they also correctly guessed the bonus puzzle with ONE SECOND LEFT. If that doesn't sound like reason enough, they also DABBED after correctly solving one of the puzzles. They were dripping swagu like an attendee at a party in Beyoncé's backyard.
Honorable mention: Bobby Shmurda's hat
It was rumored to have its own section, but it has not yet returned from its voyage to the stratosphere.
On a serious note, there is so much about the black American experience that should be memorialized and I’m grateful we have a place where the collection of these relics has begun. Our experiences haven’t all been positive or negative and while I tend to favor narratives that are humorous in nature, I honor the ones that show the hardships we have faced.
What would you like to see in the museum. Comment below!