Visiting the Schomburg was a great experience. I had been stressed all week about all of the papers I had to write and edit but the mini field trip was a welcome break from the crazy that has been happening at the end of this semester. I thought that the Langston Hughes memorial was a cool aspect about the memorial, especially since it’s at the front of the Schomburg center. I thought it was a really cool way to bring a poem about nature to life. I thought it was really interesting how Langston Hughes’ ashes were hidden.
I really loved how we were able to see some artifacts about the cultural significance of Harlem and the history of black Americans. Most times when I was in high school, the most I learned about black history was one section that took up half a page in the history textbook. The artifacts provided insight into how black history is so intertwined with the history of Harlem.
I also really loved looking at the art gallery. I enjoy going to art museums, so it was really cool to see art, particularly by black artists who aren’t really represented at larger museums. I also enjoyed when the guide told us the history of how the Schomburg Center came to be. I found it interesting how Schomburg took it upon himself to find all of these artifacts in order to learn more about his own history.
Overall, going to the museum was a great experience that taught me more about black art and history. It was great having seeing history from a perspective that I was never really taught. One of the great things about the Schomburg is its mission to educate people about black history. The museum was a great way to show us the local history of Harlem.
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