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Monday, November 16, 2009
Civil Rights
So the trip to the National Civil Rights Museum was a worthwhile and humbling experience, and for those of you who were unable to attend today, if you have not been I strongly encourage you do so. We read the words of great Civil Rights leaders from Booker T. Washington, to Malcolm X, and of course Martin Luther King, and of course we have also read more in depth some of Martin Luther King's ideas. Following our trip to the museum we discussed what we saw as we rushed through the history of African American oppression and eventual triumph. Anyways Professor Harwood brought up the question that there was one glaring mistake made by the museum. After a minute or so of puzzled looks and waiting for an answer, our curiosity was satisfied. For being the National CIVIL RIGHTS Museum it was focused solely on the movement for African American freedom and equality, but as we all know there was more than one movement for equality, the Women's Rights movement was also an important chapter in our history. This we all realized was true because the closest the museum came to addressing women's rights was Rosa Parks, and she flew under the banner of African American rights more so than women's rights. Looking back through our course work this semester, it doesn't seem completely surprising that women be left out of something, but it lead me to ask myself whether it was such a big deal. While the name National Civil Rights Museum does not sound like it should be dedicated exclusively to African Americans, it is important to remember that the movement was labelled the Civil Rights Movement, and so it is a museum that is documenting the history of this particular movement. Perhaps it would be better if they decided to chop off the word "National", but even so, I feel like there would be too much material if they included the women's rights movement. Instead of doing something radical like that there should be a separate museum for women's rights, if there is not already one, and it could be in a place that is more historically significant like Seneca, New York. I guess what I am trying to say is that the name of the museum, while it was a misstep is not something that should be blown out of proportion.
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I agree with the idea that the name of the museum may need to be revised in some way. Even if the founders of the museum didn't mean it to be, the name is offensive and misleading. The title is implying that the civil rights oppression in the U.S. took only with African Americans. This implication is offensive to those other groups who have faced oppression like the rights of other minorities, women, and gay/lesbians. The museum should either change the name or design the museum to represent all the different situation where civil rights have been and are being violated in the U.S.
ReplyDeleteI found it interesting that the name didn't even phase us before Professor Harwood mentioned it. I think, in terms of women's civil rights, it further supports what de Beauvoir was saying. Although there definitely were women advocates for civil rights, the movement was not nearly as monumental as African-Americans'. Thus, we naturally expect a Civil Rights Museum to be about African-Americans. But it furthers de Beauvoir's point in that woman didn't have such a strong movement because they aren't connected culturally or religiously like African-Americans are.
ReplyDeleteYou both have made some good points. Jessie, you are certainly right that the name is not exclusive, but that the museum is. The first option you suggest could be implemented, but what would be a suitable name for the museum. I don't see your second option as feasible or a proper course of action. The museum is here in Memphis at that location for a particular reason, and I feel like including an unrelated movement at that specific location would just water down the exhibit, and it wouldn't be beneficial for the other groups. Plus as I said before, there would just be way to much material to try to squeeze into that space.
ReplyDeleteMary it is indeed a very revealing fact that we don't even notice when something like this happens. I don't think it is because we think the women's rights movement was unimportant, we have merely been taught through our years in schools about the African American Civil Rights movement, and how it is such a key chapter in American history on an unequal plane with any other movement.
I agree that it makes the most sense to leave the museum as it is, adding other movements would detract from the museum. However, the current name of the museum really needs to be changed ever so slightly. It is true that the fight for black rights is often referred to as the civil rights movement which is completely acceptable since it is indeed one of the largest movements of this sort in our nations history. However, it certainly is not the only one. Therefor the museum should be called something along the lines of The National Civil Rights Museum of Black America. This way it is clear that the history of the museum is dedicated to the struggle of blacks for their rights.
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