Posted on 12/30/2002 8:20:52 AM PST by H8DEMS
Recently, in Baltimore's Inner Harbor, ground was broken for a new, $33 million monument to Maryland's African Americans…the largest of its kind on the East Coast.
Named for the late billionaire, Reginald F. Lewis, the new museum will concentrate on the history and culture of Maryland's African Americans.
On East North Avenue, not far from the place where Reginald Lewis grew up, is the Great Blacks in Wax Museum, the first museum of its kind in the country.
Founded 20 years ago by Dr. Joanne Martin and her husband, Dr. Elmer Martin (now deceased), this museum is the fruition of the labors of Drs. Martin who, with their extensive knowledge of African American history and culture, wanted to create a museum in tribute to the accomplishments of blacks -- not just locally -- but from around the world.
At the entrance of the Museum is a monument to Hannibal, the great warrior, seated upon an elephant as he makes his triumphant march across the Alps.
Also holding a place of prominence is a wax figure of the late Mr. Lewis.
Joanne Martin is a quiet presence in the Museum. She keeps the dream of her husband alive by involving the community in the day-to-day operations of the Museum.
She has vowed to stay in East Baltimore where, she asks, ''Who else can boast of a tribute to African Americans right in their own neighborhood?''
Neighborhood residents -- children and adults alike -- come to the museum for education and employment.
In addition to the exhibits and gift shops, a Museum Guide Training (docent) program has begun to teach young people how to conduct tours.
''When the children come here, sometimes they'll feel as if they're in school. It's when they've been here and learned what we do that they get a better feel of their history. It gives me a great feeling to learn that I've helped a young person find his or her way,'' Dr. Martin says.
A quiet renaissance is also occurring. The Museum is in the midst of an expansion that will comprise a square city block. It is part of a $50 million campaign that will see the entire area revitalized.
''The back of the building will become the front of the building,'' explained Dr. Martin. An artist's rendition of the site shows extensive parking, renovation of the fronts of houses, green spaces, etc.
''We want our visitors to be able to see beauty when they look around and we want our neighbors to see beauty when they look around,'' she said.
In addition to the expansion, the Museum is also the recipient of a Hewlett-Packard ''Digital Village'' award, part of a $5 million Empowerment Zone award that will allow the Museum to open a Community Technology Center.
On the second floor of the Mansion, rooms have already been fitted out with computers and attendant software.
Adults and children alike will be trained on the computers -- not just to be able to look up ''stuff'' on the Internet, but research their family histories.
Working in collaboration with the East Baltimore ''Chance'' program, the Center will also provide job training.
''We're also going to take the Museum 'on the road,''' Dr. Martin continued.
In February, Dr. Martin will travel to Tennessee for a tribute to Dr. Benjamin Hooks. Then, it's on to Minneapolis in tribute to Roy Wilkins and to New York, where tribute will be paid to the founders of the FUBU clothing line.
And, probably one of the most impressive movie icons in the world, Isaac Julian, has contacted Dr. Martin to include the Museum in a movie.
''The premiere will be held in Liverpool, England,'' Dr. Martin said. ''Mr. Julian visited Baltimore and asked to visit an African American landmark. He was told to visit our Museum and was so impressed that he had to include us in the movie.''
The Great Blacks In Wax Museum was invited to move downtown, but refused.
''We want to stay here, in this community, where we can tell the difficult stories of history,'' Dr. Martin insisted. ''Here, we have the opportunity to transform North Avenue. Elmer used to ask how can our children appreciate the struggles if we don't give them a yardstick by which to measure the struggles?''
She concluded, ''The Museum can be [a] part of our children's everyday reality.''
Like all Americans, some make it some don't.
But shouldn't noteworthy people with African negroid ancestry be treated equally and featured right alongside the notable whites?
And if this museaum is a good idea, is it not also a good idea to have a museaum about notable people of European caucasian descent?
White caucus........Hmmmmmmm........white caucus........I know.........Let's ask Alice?
I mean.......we're in "Wonderland" aren't we? ;)
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