Reflection On Northwest African American Museum

Museums aren’t just buildings that store and exhibit historical objects. Museums give us an interpretation of history; we each find a way that the objects help us figure out how we fit into this world and how we view the world as well. I’ve always been interested in history and how the world has evolved into what it is today. I think that is because even though I was born here in The States, my parents weren 't and I have a substantial amount of respect for what they endured.
I visited the Northwest African American Museum on Thursday around three in the afternoon. I visited luckily at a very slow time of the day, therefore, I really was able to take my time looking at each artifact, exhibit, and reading all the stories of people that have …show more content…
There was a gallery with lots that had to do with dance. There was one photo there I saw that stood out; it was a photo of a dance school of students. The description described a little bit about how and when the school came to be. It was extremely fascinating looking at all the costumes and props all around the gallery. I think it really displayed how far African American people came — in the dance world in this particular exhibit. The costumes that are showcased were also made for specific productions and each one has a meaning. I think seeing them showcased tells us how those costumes then had meaning and still do today. Possibly one of the many costumes could have been designed for a production that focused in on the migration of African American people migrating and adjusting to the Pacific Northwest. The start of migration of the African American people to the Pacific Northwest started after the Civil War. According to one of the displays I saw, African Americans came as miners, soldiers, railroad workers, or servants. They settled from Yakima all the way to Victoria, British Columbia. Increasing numbers to African American people migrated to the Northwest. One big that stood out was as the number of people rose, and this community started to grow, organized responses were developed to infringement of their civil …show more content…
It opened my eyes more to the fortunate life I was given, especially being born in the United States. Being born here really gives you the birth right to the opportunities available, whereas people in third-world countries do not have the same. My parents were born in a different country and migrated when they were teenagers. To this day my mom tells me these stories about how limited the resources were back in Vietnam and how it is so different from living here. Being able to go back to where my family is from made it that much more true and real to me. Both of my mothers parents passed away from diseases that were not going to be cured with the resources that were available there. After visiting this particular museum, I would love the opportunity to go to Vietnam or any country with a fresh set of eyes and look at the difference in the health care resources and