U.S. Slavery Museum

The United States Slavery Museum has been proposed as a memorial that would be located in Washington D.C. at the downtown Mall. The idea has been mulled over for quite some time, and there has been a website dedicated to slavery museum since 2001. Slavery history is very important for all citizens of the U.S. to be familiar with, and this memorial will be doing its part to help this information reach the masses. Even though slavery history is a subject that may make people uncomfortable, it is still a part of our nation’s past and needs to be dealt with. Here are some of the top reasons why we should all support the United States Slavery Museum and spread the issue of slavery history as widely as possible.

1. Educate future generations – The citizens of the future will become more and more disconnected from slavery history with every single year that passes. We need to make sure that things like this never happen again in this country, and the slavery museum will be a valuable tool in assuring that much. As the famous philosopher George Santayana once said, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it”. Without slavery history continuing to be in the minds of our society, it is possible that we may revisit this dark time.

2. Leave the past behind – By erecting the U.S. Slavery Museum, our nation can begin the healing process that is desperately needed. While keeping slavery history in the light is very important, it is also imperative that we recognize that this did occur in the past. The national slavery museum will be a milestone that will represent us putting slavery history behind us. We can still learn from it, but the feelings of anger and hatred can finally be cast aside.

3. Open up lines of communication – As it stands right now, slavery history is considered somewhat of a taboo subject, but it does not have to be. The slavery museum will not only house pieces of art and artifacts that came from that time period, but it also will serve as a gathering place. People can go there to discuss issues of slavery, how it still affects people today, and what we can do to move forward.

Without educating people about slavery history, many will not understand the cruelty and inhumanity that took place during these centuries of oppression on our country’s soil. The United States Slavery Museum will be a great way to begin looking ahead while still keeping our eyes on the past. Slavery history is going to be something that our country will have to deal with for quite some time in the future, and avoiding the subject is simply not going to work. The slavery museum is currently taking donations so that this idea can be realized. Visit their website to find out more about the memorial and how you can help to make it happen.

Slavery

The question of whether pieces of art that depict slavery have a place in an art museum has been debated for quite some time. Slavery was a very dark period in American history, along with every other nation that partook in this inhumane and cruel practice. There are viable arguments for both sides of this controversial subject, and knowing why people feel the way they do about this type of content being in an art museum may give somebody a better understanding of their own feelings on it. Here are some reasons why people are for or against slavery artwork being displayed at an art museum.

Against: Some believe that slavery is not something that people should be gathering around to look at. The disgusting acts that took place in our history should be left in the past, not stared at as a form of entertainment. Visiting an art museum to see the struggles of slaves is offensive.

For: A reason why many people believe that slavery artwork does belong in an art museum is because these events did occur, and the depictions are a constant reminder of that. Without knowing and studying our history, we may end up making the same mistakes again in the future. Visiting an art museum should be an educational experience, and that includes that good and the bad events.

Against: Another argument is that having constant reminders of slavery is not going to allow the United States to heal its wounds. Issues of race have not gone away by any means, and there are still many ignorant people out there. To make people understand that slavery is not a subject to trivialize, the artwork should be taken out of the art museum.

For: It is a popular belief that disallowing any type of art from being displayed at an art museum is a form of censorship. Art is something that allows future generations to understand the ups, downs, joys, and pain of past civilizations. Much of the knowledge that we possess about previous inhabitants of Earth is through their art. Years from now, paintings and sculptures of slavery will be educational tools available for people in an art museum.

It is obvious that there are some very good points that can be made by both sides of this debate. While slavery was a horrible part of American history, it is still a very important part. It may be difficult for many to think about but it is necessary to keep the pain that these people went through in our minds. Knowing about what went on during this tragic time period can give people a better understanding of human nature and the type of ghastly behavior that we are capable of. Having people learn about history and the human struggle every time they step into an art museum is a luxury that we can’t afford to lose.