Ella Fitzgerald's Books

Where: National Museum of African-American History and Culture

When: closing December 31, 2019

This small display on the 2nd floor of the museum features several of Ella Fitzgerald's books.  It's brought to you by the good people of the Smithsonian Libraries.  As the librarian who put together this display noted, you can "read" people by looking at their books - I do the same thing when I visit someone's house.

We see that Fitzgerald was interested in cooking, music, culture and language, and that many of her books were inscribed by the authors.  Even this small sample shows her taste and her influence on other creative people.

Verdict: Worth a few moments' look when you're next at the museum.

All About Oprah

Where:  National Museum of African American History and Culture

When: closing June 30, 2019

This show is a biography of Oprah Winfrey.  I'm going to assume that everyone reading this blog knows who Oprah is, and has at least some familiarity with her life story.  She came from a very modest background, had no connections and made herself into one of the richest, most famous people in America by dint of hard work and talent.

It's an inspiring story, and I understand why the museum would tell it.
The question I have is, does the fact that Oprah has donated so much money to the museum create a conflict of interest?  It seems wrong to say that if you give money to an incredibly worthy cause that the money should preclude your story being told, and there's no doubt that Oprah is one of the most influential African Americans in history.  I just wondered what the ethics of the museum world are surrounding displays concerning their own donors.

Verdict: It's a well done display, and I'm sure even those who are big fans will learn something.

Learning a Lot about Hip Hop

Where: National Museum of African American History and Culture

When:  closing May 5, 2019

I'm delighted to say that the African American Museum is now open on a walk-up basis after 1:00 pm on weekdays.  This means that I can go to see special exhibits on my lunch hour - something I've been wanting to do for years.  I understand the need to limit the number of visitors at first; if they'd let in everyone who wanted to come all at once, no one would have been able to see anything.  But now, hooray(!), the crowds have decreased a bit, and I can go over and see things without having to take a day off of work to do it.

The first show I saw was one on hip hop photography.  I'll admit, I had my doubts about this.  I don't know anything about hip hip, and it has always seemed like something that just wasn't for me.  I knew so little, that I didn't even know where to start to learn about it.  But, I reminded myself that learning new things is why I go to museum exhibits, and off I went.

I'm really glad I went, because I learned a lot.  Hip hop is not just music; it's music, DJing, graffiti and breakdancing.  The culture began in the Bronx in the 1970s.  Young people living there felt alienated from mainstream America, and hip hop was a way both to express that feeling of being cut off from the dominant culture and to create a new cultural expression.  Photographs of hip hop artists are paired with photographs of older, more traditional African American artists, which helped me to understand hip hop better.  For instance, breakdancing can trace its roots back to the Lindy Hop, the dance craze of the 1930s and 1940s.  Langston Hughes and Duke Ellington were ground-breaking artists in their day, and are now part of the 20th century American canon.  I have no doubt that hip hop will be viewed the same way in time.

Verdict: Great introduction to hip hop for those who are not well versed in the culture.

One of the Best Things I've Ever Seen

Recently, I was fortunate enough to get a ticket to see the National Museum of African American History and Culture.  I got the ticket through the local law librarians organization to which I belong, so I have no idea how long it took to obtain the passes or how difficult the process was.  My understanding is that it's both long and arduous.  Even if that's true, it's still worth the wait and the trouble, because this is an amazing and incredible museum.

What you can see of the building from the outside is only about half of the space.  The History Galleries are all below ground.  So the museum is far larger than it appears.

When you enter, you take an escalator or stairs down to the concourse level and from there, you get into a large (room-sized) elevator to go to the very bottom level.  Then, you make your way back up to the concourse by walking through African-American history.  I'll be honest, it's not always an easy trip.  The beginning is especially intense; it's the slave ships.  The horrors can make you doubt the basic decency of humanity, and the exhibits are (I believe deliberately) cramped and dark.

Then, we have the years of slavery.  The image that stayed with me was of a woman, put up for sale, who was beaten until her infant was wrenched from her grasp, so that the child could be sold separately.  Even now, I find it hard to discuss; there are some things for which I have no words.

After the Civil War, there is segregation, and the Civil Rights movement, and the final decades of the 20th century, when African-Americans began to appear more frequently, and as real characters (as opposed to caricatures) in popular culture.  Finally, there is the inauguration of Barack Obama, and I'm not someone who gets choked up easily, but I felt a catch in my throat.

Back on the concourse level, I headed to the restaurant.  This is not to be missed.  Set up in stations (like the restaurant at American Indian), I opted for the friend chicken and macaroni and cheese.  This entailed a wait in line, but it was worth every minute - so delicious.  When I go back, I'll get something else, but only because I'd like to try other offerings, not out of any dissatisfaction with what I had.

Above ground are the Culture Galleries, which I decided to skip.  I was exhausted, having spent two solid hours, mostly on my feet.  I will tackle them next time, for sure.

My advice: get tickets for as early in the day as possible - there's lots to see.  Wear the most comfortable pair of shoes you own.  Go to the restaurant.

Verdict: Simply amazing.