With the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture opening to the public in Washington, D.C. this week, U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor, D-Tampa, who plans to travel there for the opening, lauded the new facility as crucial at a time where racism has again entered the national dialogue.
At the Hall of History in Tampa’s Robert W. Saunders Public Library Monday, Castor announced former USF Ombudsman Samuel Wright, who also served as director of multicultural affairs and an adjunct professor of Africana studies, will be her guest for the event.
The library, which opened last year, has an archive for the Central Avenue district of Tampa, which had historically been predominantly African-American before Tampa became integrated, and much like the new Smithsonian facility, it aims to remind the public of a time when discrimination on the basis of race was not only widely accepted, but mandated.
Castor called the opening of the Smithsonian’s 19th and newest museum “a remarkable moment” to help our nation reflect on its past and move beyond division still largely evident today toward a better future.
“This is an important chapter in American History. It explains why we still must heal,” Castor said. “We still must focus on fighting for equal rights all across this country.”
Wright expressed similar sentiments, stressing the importance of educating people—especially younger generations—about the unfairness African-Americans have faced in the near and distant past.
“It’s important that young people understand that many people had to pay a great price to have freedom in America,” Wright said. “Young people have to be educated on what transpired in yesteryear so they do not have to see a repeat of that in tomorrow. That’s key.”
In her remarks, Castor warned of a “new wave of racism in this country,” evidenced by epithets often lobbed at President Obama and his family and racist comments made by Donald Trump and his supporters, namely within the “alt-right” movement that is gaining publicity with Trump’s candidacy.
“Something is going on that is making it acceptable to lash out at your neighbors who are different than you are, whether it’s how they look or their religion or where they come from,” Castor said.
There is a “rise of the alt-right movement—which is really a term of white supremacy,” she said, “and we’ve all got to work together to battle back and say, ‘That’s not okay. It’s not acceptable to condemn your neighbor because they’re different than you.’”
The Smithsonian’s National Museum of African-American History and Culture is the last museum to be built on the National Mall and has been in the works for 13 years since Congress and President George W. Bush authorized its construction.
Wright said it’s about time.
“The issue is appreciating the plight of African Americans in this country because we’ve had to endure a lot,” he said. “[The museum] shows we finally recognize the contributions of what African Americans have done in this country.”
As is the case for all museums at the National Mall, the National Museum of African-American History and Culture will have free admission. In order to prevent overcrowding, museum visitors are required to reserve timed passes to enter the museum at a specific time. Castor recommended that people who are planning on visiting the museum during its first few months contact her office for assistance in securing timed entry passes and scheduling a time to visit.
Carrie Hurst, the principal librarian and branch manager of the library, joined Castor on Monday’s tour. Hurst said that the Saunders Public Library will host a live watch party of the opening of the museum Saturday morning at 10 a.m., in association with the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH).
This article appears in Sep 15-22, 2016.
