African-American Museum celebrates black history month

AMANDA FINNEGAN ASST MANAGING EDITOR

EDU

AJF724@CABRINI

Nestled in the heart of historic Philadelphia, Pa. is a museum devoted to a heritage that was once excluded from American history The African-American Museum in Philadelphia, located at 701 Arch St., was established in 1976 as the Afro-American Historical and Cultural Museum, in commemoration of the nation’s Bicentennial and has flourished ever since.

The museum was the fist institution funded and built by a major municipality to honor and exhibit the African-American heritage.

The AAMP has four galleries that showcase struggle and stride of the African-American people. The first gallery that visitors walk into is a trip through ancient Egypt and the Nile Valley

The colorful murals on the walls focus on the vibrant history and reaffirm Africa’s many contributions to the world. By using visual imagery, timelines and artifacts, the gallery named “Glo- rious Legacies from Our African Past,” teaches visitors a valuable history lesson.

As guests walk from the first gallery to AAMP’s newest exhibit, “The New Black Hollywood,” stunning airbrushed murals line the ceilings of tribal life in Africa. “The New Black Hollywood” exhibition celebrates AfricanAmerican film makers and actors from the 1980s to the beginning of the 21st century

This exhibit contains 50 movie posters and an anecdote about each film. One of the most recent posters is of the Academy Awardnominated film “Hotel Rwanda,” a film about the 1994 genocide when nearly one million Rwandans were killed. The exhibit’s purpose is to show that AfricanAmerican talent is no longer a rare exception.

The exhibit named “Silent Voices, Loud Echoes” showcases the works of African-American artists in the city of Philadelphia. It contains photographs of murals all over the city to celebrate AAMP’s 30th anniversary.

One of the most notable and recognizable murals, located on North Broad St., is of saxophon- ist Grover Washington Jr., painted by Peter Pagast in 2001. The newest mural in Philadelphia can be seen on Ridge Ave. of Malcolm X, with a quote stressing the importance of education.

Apiece that hangs high between galleries is a historical map of Pennsylvania, depicting the stops on the Underground Railroad, a memorial to all those who helped slaves achieve their freedom.

Although AAMPis dedicated to a specific heritage, people from all different backgrounds, young and old, can be seen embracing this part of American history. With Pennsylvania being the first state to adopt gradual emancipation in 1780, Philadelphia couldn’t be a better place to house a museum for AfricanAmerican heritage.