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Would your interest in going be there if the place was seemingly unimportant? There are dozens of Museums dedicated to the Diaspora, throughout our nation, how many of those have you been to? Shouldn't the National iteration be our most significant?
Every museum and cultural institution in the world is opened in the same manner, why should the NMAAHC be different? Celebrities donated goods and large sums of personal cash to the institution, don't you agree that those people should get a preview of what their efforts partially provided?
As a fellow member of the "common folk" you speak of, I contributed to become a Museum Ambassador. Though my money may pale in comparison to Oprah's $24M, my tax deductible sum had me at nearly all of the early events with a variety of like minded supporters, including some familiar faces and names. At the gala afterparty I stood shoulder to shoulder chatting, joking, and laughing with Rob Smith--who donated about as much as Oprah--while listening to Dave Chappelle a few feet away from us on stage rapping a Kendrick Lamar song, with a House Band...all while sipping open-bar X.O.Hennessy...thanks to the Museum's inclusiveness. I also saw every famous face eagerly taking photos, for da' gram, of exhibits just like everyone else. I also personally took individual photos, as requested, by about 15 different matronly women who were delighted to have Skip Gates or Ava Duvernay happily agree to take photos with them, as we all waited in line to enter the restaurant...together.
The opening events uniquely provided the opportunity for a diverse array of people to interact in a very positive and productive way. Being in the District of Columbia that weekend, I literally did not interact or witness a single person who was not in an wonderful mood. Excitement, politeness and good spirit flowed abundantly. Even the Hebrew Israelites moved from in front of the Gallery Place Metro station to around the corner and spoke their aggressive beliefs calmly, minus their usual megaphone.
Plus, the concert events on the opening day, next to the museum on the lawn, were completely free and open to the general public. I didn't attend them but I heard the performances were amazing. Also, the acts were nearly identical to who performed at last weekend's Roots Picnic in Bryant Park,but again...FREE.
The entire opening was planned and ran fantastically!
Think about becomeing an Ambassador though - https://goo.gl/QSHiZH
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