Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

DonViejo

(60,536 posts)
Sat Sep 17, 2016, 07:51 AM Sep 2016

John Lewis spent 15 years fighting for the museum — now the dream is realized

By John Lewis September 15

I first learned there was an effort to establish a national museum dedicated to preserving African American history and culture during my first term in Congress after being elected in 1986. My colleague Rep. Mickey Leland (D-Tex.) discovered that the most recent legislative efforts had run aground a few years earlier because of an attempt by Rep. Clarence Brown (R-Ohio) and Sen. John Glenn (D-Ohio) to take the project to Wilberforce, Ohio. Mickey resurrected the idea and asked me to co-sponsor it in 1988.

I have loved history ever since I was a boy. It started when I was so young. To celebrate Carter G. Woodson’s innovation — then called Negro History Week and now called Black History Month — my teachers would ask us to cut out pictures in magazines and newspapers of famous African Americans, such as Rosa Parks and George Washington Carver. Growing up in Alabama near Tuskegee Institute, reading about Carver and Booker T. Washington, attending Fisk University later with its world-class art collection and Jubilee Singers who had sung for Queen Victoria, I knew the power of legacy. Mickey did not have to ask me twice. I was on board to push the museum bill through.

Unfortunately, he was killed in a plane crash less than a year later. So the baton was passed to me. I introduced the museum bill in every session of Congress for 15 years. I got it through the House in 1994, but Sen. Jesse Helms (R-N.C.) mounted a filibuster against the bill. My Senate partners asked to meet in my office one day. They said, “John, we have the votes to get this through the Senate, but we just don’t have anything to trade Jesse.” That push did not lead to passage, but I had gotten closer than I ever had before.

Giving up on dreams is not an option for me. Optimism is essential to the philosophy and discipline of nonviolence, so hope in the face of challenge is the only alternative I see. I knew that if I was persistent and consistent, I would at least play my role well in this effort, but at most I could win a victory for humanity.

-snip-

https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/magazine/john-lewis-spent-15-years-fighting-for-the-museum--now-the-dream-is-realized/2016/09/14/eeb0ca10-64bb-11e6-96c0-37533479f3f5_story.html?wpisrc=nl_headlines&wpmm=1

10 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
John Lewis spent 15 years fighting for the museum — now the dream is realized (Original Post) DonViejo Sep 2016 OP
In line now. nt s-cubed Sep 2016 #1
Post pictures! SunSeeker Sep 2016 #2
K&R BumRushDaShow Sep 2016 #3
hoping to see this next year mountain grammy Sep 2016 #4
I am looking forward to visiting this museum Gothmog Sep 2016 #5
Museum is great - if somewhat depressing. s-cubed Sep 2016 #6
I would love to see a documentary - air on asiliveandbreathe Sep 2016 #7
CBS This Morning devoted a whole day bigwillq Sep 2016 #8
The Museum looked amazing on TV this morning.....nt Jade Fox Sep 2016 #9
Some video (some older, some more current): demmiblue Sep 2016 #10

BumRushDaShow

(127,270 posts)
3. K&R
Sat Sep 17, 2016, 09:17 AM
Sep 2016

And donated for it multiple times (charter member). Hoping to get down there at some point (I know one of my BILs definitely wants to go)!

FAR far far too long time coming but glad it will open before the conclusion of a Presidency that was one dream realized!

s-cubed

(1,385 posts)
6. Museum is great - if somewhat depressing.
Sat Sep 17, 2016, 10:34 AM
Sep 2016

I'm glad it joins the other museums. We need to confront our history - how much our nation depended on the labor of slaves.

asiliveandbreathe

(8,203 posts)
7. I would love to see a documentary - air on
Sat Sep 17, 2016, 11:30 AM
Sep 2016

PBS for all to see - many of us will be able to go to the Museum - but many won't...just sayin' -

Hopefully they made a film from start to finish while in contruction..up to opening day..

John Lewis, sir, thank you - and keep dancing in the hallways of congress...

 

bigwillq

(72,790 posts)
8. CBS This Morning devoted a whole day
Sat Sep 17, 2016, 11:46 AM
Sep 2016

To the Museum. Thought it was a great show. Think it aired last Monday

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»John Lewis spent 15 years...