A pair of slave shackles on display in the Slavery and Freedom Gallery at the National Museum of African American History and Culture. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)The new National Museum of African American History and Culture is in part a celebration of black heritage, a commemoration of civil rights leaders and a reflection on aspects of the past that still cast a shadow on American society. “How do we help teachers protect this history?” said Mary Elliot, a co-curator of the museum’s history collection. Elliot, who is African American, said that she held the whip before its installation in the museum. Skipping exhibits that describe the rape of young black women or the lynching of young black men is a disservice, she said.

Source: Washington Post September 18, 2016 23:15 UTC