The Grand Rapids Press 02/01/12
Ferris State Constructing $1.3 million racist memorabilia museum to teach tolerance
Some truths about American history are painful. There was a time when derogatory images portraying black people as sub-human, lazy and inarticulate in racist artifacts and caricatures were so common, even lynching were on postcards.
Educators say too little dialogue occurs about the Jim Crow era – the customs and laws in place between the 1870s and mid-1960s, when the offensive images dominated the American culture
Ferris State University, Big Rapids, has a $1.3 million Jim Crow Museum of Racist memorabilia is to open mid-0March. A grand opening ceremony is set for April 26.
David Pilgrim, the museum founder and curator, said “ I want this small school in Big Rapids to be a nation leader in the discussion of race and social justice…. Jim Crow played in shaping today’s race relations”
As the museum expands from 500sq ft. to roughly 3,000, he said the mission remains to use objects of intolerance to teach tolerance and promote social justice.
Ferris contributed $800,000 to the new museum and DTE donated $250,000.
Common Sense Review
I want to know who told this University that if you display the sadness, hatred and fear of our history will heal the people of today. This generation of black people has not seen firsthand the fear of death like the black people before them and yet this generation acts like they are constantly denied the opportunities their grandparents were never given.
Why is we never hear about Thomas L. Jennings, first black man to hold a patent in 1821. He didn’t have the right to vote or even considered equal citizen hood yet overcame that idea. How about Alexander Twilight, first elected black senator, Vermont 1836. Charlotta Bass, first black woman nominated vice-president, 1952.
If you keep negative thoughts in people mind they will feel oppressed. Even when it is not true.
I wonder if they will mention that from 1867 until 1930's all the Blacks elected to office were Republicans?
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