Non-DC Traveler Assignment

Why might the museum’s inclusion of both “tragedy and triumph” reflect a common theme in African American literature?

• It downplays the struggle of Black Americans

• It shows the duality of suffering and resilience
  

• It focuses only on positive stories
  

• It presents history as unchanging

The video mentions that artifacts were brought in by families at “16 events around the country.” How does this connect to the theme of oral tradition in African American literature?

• . It suggests that artifacts were more important than stories
  

• It highlights how families privately own these artifacts
  

• It shows that African American history is preserved through family and community storytelling

• It implies that museums are the only source of authentic history

The museum includes Emmett Till’s casket. What is the significance of including such a painful artifact in a public space?

• It forces viewers to confront historical violence

• It turns tragedy into entertainment

• It only represents one aspect of African American history.

• It suggests that the casket was forgotten

How does the idea of “a sacred space” in the museum echo the use of spiritual spaces in African American culture?

• It shows that only churches can be sacred.

• It erases the idea of community gathering
  

• It connects the museum to the tradition of using spiritual spaces as sites of resistance and remembrance

• It shows that museums are secular and disconnected from spiritual tradition

What does the museum’s emphasis on “truth-telling” suggest about the role of literature in confronting history?

• Literature should hide difficult truths
  

• Literature can offer a safe space to ignore reality

• Literature is a powerful tool to reveal and challenge historical narratives

• Literature should avoid political topics altogether

The video highlights the importance of the African American contribution to American culture. How might this idea be explored in works by Langston Hughes or other Harlem Renaissance artists?

• By ignoring cultural contributions in favor of purely political themes
  

• By showcasing Black creativity and resilience in art and writing
  

• By only focusing on European cultural influences
  

• By rejecting African American culture as a source of pride

What was significant about the plane the Air Force captain found?

• It was the first plane ever built by the Wright brothers
  

• It belonged to the Tuskegee Airmen

• It was used during the Vietnam War

• It belonged to Amelia Earhart

What historical objects related to slavery was displayed in the museum?

• Nat Turner’s Bible
  

• Harriet Tubman’s shawl

• Frederick Douglass’s walking stick

• A Civil Rights sign

Who is the founding director of the museum?

• Paul Gulo

• Mary Elliot

• Lonnie Bunch

• Nancy Burkha

How many years had passed since America’s “original sin” when the Smithsonian video was made?

• 200 years

• 300 years

• 400 years

• 500 years