Black History Month: A Time to Remember, A Time to
Enjoy
By Sharron Duncan
“It’s too early for people to
be this live,” were the words of a Frostburg student as he watched members of
his organization energetically board a bus to Washington D.C. at 7:15 a.m. Feb.
22, 2014 marked the date of the annual black history month trip for members of
Frostburg State University’s Black Student Alliance (BSA). Last year, the
organization traveled to Baltimore’s National Blacks in Wax Museum. But this
year, they traveled to D.C. to visit the MLK memorial and Madame Tussaud’s wax museum.
The trip included 17 student
members, including the BSA executive board, as well as their faculty advisor
Mrs. Robin Wynder. The energy on the bus was fairly high for such an early
morning trip. “I hope we make it back for the stroll competition,” one student exclaimed
aloud. A couple of female students, who happen to be best friends, playfully
fought over where to sit, while another group debated over which movie to watch
for the 2 ½ hour ride. After finally settling on the film “Prisoners,” the
energy died down for a while but then picked up again when students began to
yell at the TV, trying desperately to solve the mystery unfolding on screen.
After arriving in D.C., the
students finally fell quiet as they reflected upon the legacy of Dr. Martin
Luther King Jr. at the MLK memorial. Many students paced themselves, walking
slowly to read and absorb the famous quotes of Dr. King that were engraved into
the memorial walls. This was a special
moment for the organization as a whole being as though they had recently
conducted a forum on the legendary activist only days prior. “I never even
heard that quote before,” a student admitted as she admired the wall. The
students gathered around Dr. King’s statue for photos full of smiles and
laughter.
After filling their brains
with knowledge, the students fed their bellies. More laughter and bonding were shared
over lunch, and then the students headed to Madame Tussaud’s around noon. Everyone
split off into small groups and toured the museum. The late Madame Tussaud, a French
entrepreneur and wax sculptor, has many wax museums across the world including
the United States, Europe, Asia and Australia. The Washington, D.C. wax figures
are categorized into Presidents, Behind the Scenes, Civil Rights, Sports,
Glamour and Media.
What distinguishes this
museum from many others is the fact that there are no barriers between the
public and the models. People are allowed to touch the models, excluding hair,
face and hands, and walk right up to the figures and take photos with them.
Also, the museum is full of interactive exhibits, making it fun for people of
all ages. The BSA students were seen exploring the exhibits making wax hands,
taking pictures behind the desk of the oval office, making speeches behind the
presidential podium, and sitting in Rosa Parks’ bus seat.
The trip appeared to be a
success, despite the small amount of students that attended. “It was great! I just
wish a more diverse group would have attended” commented president of BSA, Kira
Al-Mateen. More importantly, the bus made it back to Frostburg just in time for
the Iota Phi Theta stroll competition.
 |
| BSA members at Madame Tussaud's wax museum |
No comments:
Post a Comment