Great Blacks in Wax Museum
Many black people go to black schools to learn their culture. Sadly many come out with a one-sided view of many things and they reject those of us who have a more diversified experience. In my experience they often know about civil rights leaders but nothing about people like Alexander Pushkin, the father of Russian literature; St. Anthony the Great, father of monasticism, St. Mary of Egypt, to whom the Fifth Sunday of Lent is dedicated, etc. At work when I asked Sheriah who Colby Bryant was, she said, "You don't know anybody!" I told her that I know who Paul Sarbanes is and she did not know. He was our current US senator.I enjoyed my visit to the Great Blacks in Wax Museum, but I was disappointed in the major emphasis on slavery. At The Harbor Bank of Maryland I once commented that St. Patrick used a slave and a woman asked, "Was he black?" Her tone of voice made it clear that she thought that only black people were slaves.
I would love to see much more on the achievements of black Americans. I suspect that when they do expand, we will see this. Slavery is a part of our history, but so are the accomplishments of people like George Washington Carver, Dr. Ben Carson, etc. I met the good doctor and I was really impressed by him.
Before this year I did not know that there were also black slave owners. Last year I learned that the Society of Jesus, a.k.a. Jesuits, owned slaves. So now if you are a descendant of one of their slaves, you can go to Georgetown University for free. I don't know the details.
I was glad to see a statue of Alexander Pushkin, the father of Russian literature. I have not read any of his works, but I am aware of him. In most experience, most black people have never heard of him.
I'm glad that the name of the place is "Great Blacks" and not "Great African Americans." I am an American and proud to be one. I am not an African American. Two of the three African Americans whom I do know are both white. I'm at least fourth generation American and have no ties to Africa nor interest in Africa any more than I would in Europe.
