Yesterday I went on a group outing to the California African American Museum. First chartered in 1977, I had never even heard of this place. So when the outing was presented, I jumped at the chance to go.

 

It isn’t gi-normous, but it is filled with amazing, thought-provoking art. The current exhibits offer not only wonderful pieces, but also incredible information. I learned a lot during my visit! And I was greatly moved by what I saw and experienced.

 

Just before leaving, I and the other folks in our group stopped to admire several photos by Spider Martin. He documented a great deal of the American Civil Rights Movement, including the march from Selma to Montgomery Alabama. As we stood there looking at photos of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., various members of our group began sharing their personal memories of marching with Dr. King and working alongside him. It was amazing and I was humbled to be in their storied presence. Not one of those souls made a big deal out of their past experiences. They just shared, matter-of-factly. And it was beautiful.

 

If you find yourself in L.A. and want to do some tourist-ing outside the same-old same-old, do yourself a favor and head over to the CA African American Museum in Exposition Park near Downtown. (Heck – why not make a day of it and go to the CA Science Center and the Natural History Museum as well.) What a beautiful way to spend some quality time in L.A.

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