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Dr. Antoinette Harrell visiting
Ly Benson's Gallery & Studio
St. Helena Island, SC |
To visit the Gullah Geechee communities, we traveled twelve-hour journey from Louisiana to Charleston, South Carolina and the island of St. Helena. It was well worth the time and effort spent on the long drive. The Harrell branch of my family originates from South Carolina. As well as Nansemond, Virginia, which is now a part of the Commonwealth of Virginia.
It is imperative that African Americans in the United States do not allow the history of slavery and the heavy clouds of slavery under which Jim and Jane Crow ruled to erase our history during a time when Critical Race Theory is being debated across the South with the aim of eradicating African American history.
Our blood stain the foundation of this country. Our history is part of America's fabric. Even the most ugly events in history cannot be erased. It is crucial that we protect our right to hold onto our history regardless of how difficult it may be. By visiting the many museums that hold pieces of our history. As we converse with our historians and curators, weoften do not rewrite history, but write our narrative. There is no doubt in my mind that our history and culture should be protected in the same way that those who propose to erase them have. It is essential for me to visit museums in order to gain a deeper understanding of my past and history. A museum dedicated to African American culture tells a story. Our history is told and interpreted through the museums.
