VOA标准英语2010年-African American History Museums Offer

The $23 million International Civil Rights Museum in Greensboro, North Carolina is located at the site of a famous 1960 civil rights lunch counter protest.

"...the more these important stories are told, the better we are at understanding who we are as Americans and understanding how change is possible."

On the 50th anniversary of a turning point in African American history, the doors open at the site of a famous 1960 civil rights lunch counter protest. The $23 million International Civil Rights Museum in Greensboro, North Carolina pays tribute to the struggle for racial equality in the United States.

It is the newest in a growing number of black history museums that have opened in the last 20 years.

"It is an opportunity for us to provide a moment in time in history in a place other than a book. It makes this history real," says Amelia Parker, the museum's executive director.

She expects 200,000 visitors each year which will generate millions of dollars for the local economy. "As cultural tourism expands as one of the most vibrant¹ elements of the tourist industry, it clearly creates a venue² on the east coast that will draw people from around the world." 

The old Woolworth's store is now home to the International Civil Rights Museum in Greensboro, North Carolina.

Living History

More than 2.5 million people have visited the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, Tennessee since it opened in 1991. It is located at the Lorraine Motel, the site of Dr. Martin Luther King's assassination³.

"It makes me want to learn more, just to get a better background and to better myself personally," says Vincent Harris, a museum visitor who came to Tennessee from Texas to learn more about black history. "The more you know, the more I can pass that on to my kids  and my kids can do the same for generation and generation so the knowledge just won't be lost in time."

Beverly Robertson, president of the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, says that is a common motivation for visitors. "So you see this renewed interest in trying to anchor ourselves to something solid. We want something solid. Something that we can understand. Something that can help us understand our past and thus help people understand where we are today."

The black history museums are working in partnership⁴ to ensure a fuller and richer experience for visitors.

Looking to the future

The people who run the black history museums say they aren't competing for tourists, but are working in partnership to ensure a fuller and richer experience for their visitors.

Lonnie Bunch is director of the new Smithsonian National Museum of African American History in Washington, which will open in 2015. He says having museums in communities across the country allows the public to learn about the nation's history through local perspectives.

"I love the notion that more and more communities are embracing their history, especially their African American history," says Bunch. "And I think the more of these museums, the more these important stories are told, the better we are at understanding who we are as Americans and understanding how change is possible."
 

1 vibrant   

adj.震颤的，响亮的，充满活力的，精力充沛的，(色彩)鲜明的

参考例句：

• He always uses vibrant colours in his paintings. 他在画中总是使用鲜明的色彩。
• She gave a vibrant performance in the leading role in the school play.她在学校表演中生气盎然地扮演了主角。

2 venue   

n.犯罪地点，审判地，管辖地，发生地点，集合地点

参考例句：

• The hall provided a venue for weddings and other functions.大厅给婚礼和其他社会活动提供了场所。
• The chosen venue caused great controversy among the people.人们就审判地点的问题产生了极大的争议。

3 assassination   

n.暗杀；暗杀事件

参考例句：

• The assassination of the president brought matters to a head.总统遭暗杀使事态到了严重关头。
• Lincoln's assassination in 1865 shocked the whole nation.1865年，林肯遇刺事件震惊全美国。

4 partnership   

n.合作关系，伙伴关系

参考例句：

• The company has gone into partnership with Swiss Bank Corporation.这家公司已经和瑞士银行公司建立合作关系。
• Martin has taken him into general partnership in his company.马丁已让他成为公司的普通合伙人。