It is said that those who
do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it. Perhaps that is why I am so
fascinated with it. As much as I am looking forward to the future, especially
in my own life, I am constantly looking back. I have a fascination with history
and historic artifacts. It is almost incomprehensible that these events
actually took place and we still have many relics from so long ago.
When it comes to American
history my favorite topics include our founding fathers (http://thequeenoff-ckingeverything.blogspot.com/2011/07/for-4th.html), particularly presidents. I
want to see their keepsakes in museums, their houses, and even where they are
buried. That one huge mansion that everyone after John Adams has shared has
been the one giant goal in my mind’s eye.
For security purposes and for my hopes of getting to visit in the future
(despite the anonymity of this blog) I will keep those thoughts to myself for
now.
I also have favorite
presidents. After all, I do not like just any celebrity either. I like a
president based on what they have done for our country. The impossible boundaries
they have crossed (http://thequeenoff-ckingeverything.blogspot.com/2012/09/for-re-enacting-revolutionary-times.html). The miracles changes they
have made. For all of the impacts we still feel today. Those are the leaders
that give me goose bumps. I admire anyone whose heroic actions outweighed the
danger to themselves or their legacy. Naturally, Abraham Lincoln is high on
that list.
Whenever I go to
Washington, D.C., our nation’s capital (like you don’t know, you know right?!)
I always have to stop at the Lincoln memorial. It is one of the most special
and beautiful on the National Mall. But the part that gets me teary eyed EVERY
single time is the inscription over his head that reads “In this temple as in
the hearts of the people for whom he saved the union the memory of Abraham
Lincoln is enshrined forever”.
Another historically
extraordinary spot on this memorial is carved eighteen steps down from the top.
On that stair you will see engraved very lightly, but is there trust me, (there
are always park rangers to ask or others taking pictures so you can find it) is
the spot where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. stood facing the reflecting pool when
he gave his “I Have a Dream” speech. Between these two world changing men standing on that ground is like standing
inside of a temple.
Now since all of my
readers are very smart the answer is obvious, right? Right! Lincoln is a
crucial figure to our country and even more so to the black community. For
heaven’s sake people Lincoln freed the slaves. If you don’t know that you
shouldn’t be allowed to vote, have children, or leave your house.
September 22, 2012 marks the
one hundred fiftieth anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation. To be fair,
this is the preliminary document, not the one that would be adopted the
following year (1863) and free every slave. But this document, still preserved
in Lincoln’s handwriting, demonstrated the future he envisioned. It was the
first step and the first legal method of freedom for many.
My journey to this
document all began with a tweet from a friend. There was going to be a special
exhibit for only three days that would showcase this document at the Schomburg
Center for Research in Black Culture in Harlem. I had never heard of this center before but I am always
interested in learning about places like this. When I first found out about the
92Y I was in love. It is centers like these where there are lectures, exhibits,
special events, and all kinds of things to enrich your life. They provide
experiences that you wouldn’t normally run into otherwise. Those are the
moments that give me a natural high. They are the reason I can muddle through
the parts of the days and weeks we all dread, the routine parts of life.
Needless to say as soon as I saw this I instantly reserved my tickets. A perk
was that entrance was free. How could I pass that up?
After work my friend and I
took a cab up to Harlem for the big event. We were so excited. Naturally I was
going to make the most of it and a great meal was to follow. But you will have
to check back tomorrow to learn about that. I was so curious to see what this
research center was like.
When we walked in, it was
very crowded. Unfortunately we didn’t get to see any other exhibit and there
was a line in the room leading up to the document we were all there to see.
There was this amazing energy in the room of excitement and eager patience.
There were several panels detailing the history from the beginning all through
today. But I couldn’t focus I was concentrating on my turn at the looking
glass.
I loved that pictures were
allowed as long as there was no flash photography. I was saving my battery and
even packing a spare. When we finally approaching this wonder, I wouldn’t let
anyone rush me along. It was magical. It was so clear still. You could still
make out the words. It gave me chills and brought tears to me eyes. I wanted to
wrap my hands around the glass it was in but I didn’t want to sound off the
alarms.
After we were done with
the exhibit we went downstairs were there was a frenzy of activity. There were
film crews and people going into a theater. Apparently it was an event for
Education Nation hosted by NBC journalist Pat Battle. She had this great line
“no one can take education from you” which is why it is so important. I think
that is such a great message and one that we all should be promoting. After
Pat, there was a panel discussion led by MSNBC’s Melissa Harris-Perry and
Professor/Author Stephen L. Carter. Mr. Carter’s latest book “The Impeachment
of Abraham Lincoln” starts with the premise that President Lincoln lived
through the assassination attempt and seeks to see how history could have been
affected.
As I was doing research
for this blog I stumbled upon a New York Times article from 2009 and this
ending caught my eye considering I had already written a similar theme:
“Though
Mr. Obama did not emphasize his African American heritage as a candidate, the
symbolism was evident and was reinforced by the fact that the swearing in was
taking place the day following the national holiday to mark the birth of Dr.
Martin Luther King. He will take office less than a month before the bicentennial
of the birth of Abraham Lincoln, another Illinoisan who took the office at a
time of national turmoil and a man whom Mr. Obama clearly looks to as an
inspiration for his own presidency. Today is about validation of the dream Dr.
King enunciated 45 years ago on the steps on the Lincoln Memorial,” said
Representative James Clyburn of South Carolina, the No. 3 Democrat in the House
and the highest ranking black congressman.”
I couldn’t help but hear
familiar words in my mind. I was thinking back to the end of the exhibit, which
showed all of the civil rights leaders and all of the progress that had been
made since 1862. It ended with a picture of President Barack Obama. I thought
back to my visit last year to the Lorraine Motel (http://thequeenoff-ckingeverything.blogspot.com/2011/06/for-rock-n-roll-ribs-and-reflection_02.html).
Ringing in my ears and in
his voice as my eyes watered, were Dr. King’s immortal words:
“Free at Last! Free at Last! Thank
God Almighty, we are free at last!"
On August 22, 2011 after
many years of raising the necessary one hundred and twenty million dollars it
cost to build, the Martin Luther King Jr. memorial opened. It is the first ever
dedicated to an African American person and non-president. It is adjacent to
the F.D.R. memorial, as fittingly diagonal from Mr. Lincoln.
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