An American Sociologist in London Day 8- The Sankofa Experience at the International Slave Museum5/24/2016 When I left the United States, the number one place that I wanted to visit was the International Slave Museum. Since its opening I wanted to visit but If you would have asked me why, I don't if I could have given a definitive answer. I would have probably said "to see our history" or " to see a materialized version of colonization." Truth is I wasn't sure because it was a combination of many reasons. Today , I went to Liverpool in order to visit the museum. I didn't know what to expect from the city. Since I arrived in London, i have continually heard about the North. Its the North this, the North that. It is like being caught in a bad Game of Thrones episode lol. Entering the city, I was stunned by the architecture. Its an eclectic mixture historic and modern. There are grand, centuries old buildings with fast food restaurants like Burger King on the bottom floor. Its a symbolic of a city trying to move past atrocities by both owning up to its history and embracing the future. The accent of the people are very different and harder for me to understand. They are friendly and genuine much like the people from the Southern part of the United States. The city was only an appetizer. As I approached the museum there was a mini carnival with a merry-go-round and snack vendors outside. I began to think, "I cant be-." Then i stopped and thought, "this is probably exactly what it looked like." Walking the docks to get to the museum was eerie and I couldn't help but winch as I breathed the heavy air. I was cautiously skeptical after going to the the London exhibit at the docklands. I was hoping for more than some pacifying attempt. I walked into the museum and say "whoa." It was beautiful and inviting. As you walk in, quotes on the wall welcome you. I felt a warmth that you rarely feel going through the museum. I can only image that it was the spiritual energy in the objects or ideas. Or maybe the warm feeling was generated from seeing the a massive collection. There are artifacts, paints and interactive displays throughout. As I traveled through the museum, I amazed at the diversity of topics covered, It has artifacts of enslaved but also it with by exploring the ways in which Africa changed the culture through a variety of ways including through language and cooking. It gives the Africans agency and complicates the dominant narrative. I was fully engaged but I kept expecting a let down. Discussion of slavery in schools are treated as a dental visits. (people closing their eyes and trying to just get through it lol). The culture does want to think about it. There's a limitation in how the culture neglects this part of the past because not only does it isolates us as a culture but and as individuals The value of the museum is that it provides a visual lecture, and its hard not to be impressed as you walk through as you start your journey in the past and continues the story. The museum is language. It's a full lecture and in that way, its a valuable piece of the culture. Its deals not only with slavery was but how does it affects contemporary racism and poverty. Focusing on colonial legacies which can be seen in street names and businesses. It asked difficult questions about the future based on this past. Most importantly, it provides a celebration of the people and their descendants, who despite it all persevered. This point is important. I remember my first time going to Egypt. Visiting the historical sites and experiencing time and places, made me understand that there is a limitation to only thinking of your ancestors as slaves. This limits your potential and places boundaries on your possibilities. Its a cage, The museum in that way is freedom and possibility. Its impressive and the polar opposite to the British Museum, which in many ways is celebration of colonization. No one leaves there not moved. It is amazing. You learn how the past, influence on the present and how to proceed to the future. It is a Sankofa experience and one that by itself was worth the trip to the United Kingdom. City of Liverpool International Slave Museum
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Myron Strong
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