When the National Museum of African American History and Culture opened yesterday, September 24, in Washington, both President Obama and Former President George W. Bush were invited to speak.
In front of 7,000 official guests, Obama repeated the words of poet Langston Hughes:
“I, too, am America.”
The museum exists to memorialize and share America’s past as well as celebrate the triumphs of its present. And the African American experience is a big part of that,
“African American history is not somehow separate than the American story. It is not the underside of the American story. It is central to the American story.”
Because of the heated debate about race, after the two fatal police shootings of black men that has dominated the news this week, Obama said that the African American story,
“Perhaps needs to be told now more than ever.”
The opening of the museum has been highly anticipated, and culminated in a weekend of celebrations across the city. The opening ceremony included speeches from Oprah Winfrey, Will Smith, and Supreme Court Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr.
Former president George W. Bush signed the 2003 bill that authorized the museum, and called the finished product fabulous, saying:
“It shows our commitment to truth. A great nation does not hide its history. It faces its flaws and corrects them.”
A beautiful moment took place when First Lady Michelle Obama was photographed together with Former President George W. Bush. It’s a lovely picture taken by former Chief White House Photographer David Hume Kennerly, and it set Twitter on Fire.
1st Lady Michelle Obama hugs Pres. George W.Bush at opening of @NMAAHC I was there for 1 of museums chief sponsors @BankofAmerica pic.twitter.com/XWw41G5nHO
— David Hume Kennerly (@kennerly) September 24, 2016
It’s truly beautiful when opposite sides come together for a greater cause, and to quote one of the responses, by Tweeter Joel Riddell, the picture is an,
“Amazing image of respect and kindness”
Amazing image of respect and kindness
— Joel Riddell (@joelriddell) September 24, 2016
Watch this video of the events, and the hug – Enjoy!
Featured image by @Kennerly on Twitter.