Smithsonian African American History Museum (NMAAHC)

In honor of Black History Month, I would like to take the time to share the amazing experience that I have had with the latest Museum that has been added to the Smithsonian Institute. I am talking about the widely popular National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC), also known as the African American Museum in Washington, DC. In September, the NMAAHC had an amazing Grand Opening that featured former President and First Lady Barack and Michelle Obama. The Guests included Will Smith, Oprah Winfrey, Patti Labelle and others. Even George W. Bush and Laura Bush were there to witness history.

Since that time, the Museum has been in such high demand that tickets are still required. However, I was fortunate enough to visit twice. Whenever I have stepped inside of that building, it is always an amazing experience with a very rich history. I have always been excited, because of the journey that we as a society have had to take and the contributions that we have made in this world.

The Architecture is revolutionary and very detailed. The color represents African American Architecture at it's finest and purest form. It is the manifestation of a beautiful vision.

I would like to share some of the highlights of this Museum through each floor.

Level 1: Heritage Hall (Main Entrance)

When you walk into the door, you already have a glimpse of how great the atmosphere is. This floor has the Welcome Desk, the Museum Store and it also has a Waterfall inside. It is called the Corona Pavilion.

Concourse:

This section shows the progression that we have made through history. There is an elevator that takes you to the lowest level of the Concourse. As you go down the elevator, you will see the most significant years in Black History: (Obama's Election, Brown v. Board of Education, Death of MLK, etc). Here is where we reach the beginning:

Part 1: Slavery and Freedom (1400-1877)

Most Notable Artifacts:
Harriet Tubman's Clothes
Nat Turner's Bible
Domestic Slave Trade
Transatlantic Slave Trade
Shackles from Slavery
Slave Cabin
Civil War Exhibit
Revolutionary War Exhibit
Emancipation Proclamation



There was also a display of Benjamin Banneker and Thomas Jefferson. Even though Thomas Jefferson said that he believed all men were created equal, Banneker called him out for owning slaves at the same time. The biggest highlight for me in this section was Nat Turner's Bible along with the garments that Harriet Tubman wore. There is also a display of the Civil War and Revolutionary War as African Americans were enlisted in those wars at the time.

Part 2: Defending Freedom, Defining Freedom: The Era of Segregation 1876-1968

Here we reach the time period of segregation and the Modern Civil Rights Movement featuring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, Rosa Parks and others. This covers the time period from the Jim Crow Era to Rosa Parks' refusal to move, Emmett Till's Death, the March on Washington to Dr. King's Death.

Most Notable Artifacts:
Segregated Railcar
Emmett Till Memorial
Freedom House
Lunch Counter
Rosa Parks Dress
Civil Rights Movement Display
Shards of glass and shotgun shell from 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, AL.
Training Aircraft used by Tuskegee Institute
Ku Klux Klan robe and belt

Part 3: A Changing America: 1968 and Beyond

Finally, we reach the point of this Exhibit where we witness the progression of American American Society from 1968 to where we are now. Unfortunately, Dr. King was assassinated on April 4, 1968. However, there was also a part of America that was witnessing a shift to more acceptance. In this display, we see the impact of African Americans in Entertainment and Politics. From Soul Train, Good Times, Cosby Show, etc., this display shows the steps that we have taken in society since 1968. On this floor, you can hear James Brown proudly sing "Say it loud, I'm Black and I'm proud". There are also displays of Movie Posters such as Foxy Brown and other movies. My favorite part of this display is the Wall that shows our Impact through each decade from the 70's, 80's, 90's to today. There is also a wall with a Giant Public Enemy Poster. There are also displays for Oprah Winfrey and Michelle Obama. When it comes to the Modern Impact, there is also an Invitation to former President Barack Obama's Legendary 2009 Inauguration, as well as a Black Lives Matter T-Shirt.

Most Notable Artifacts:
Events of 1968
Display of Decades
Public Enemy Wall
Oprah Display
Michelle Obama Display
Black Power Jacket
Door with rescue markings from Hurricane Katrina
Black Lives Matter T-Shirt
Barack Obama 2009 Presidential Inauguration Invitation

This floor also has Oprah Winfrey's Theater and the Sweet Home Cafe, which has a variety of different African American Food from different parts of the Country from the North, South, East and West. The Cafeteria is amazing.

Level 2: Explore More! Interactive Gallery

This is the Exclusive Interactive Part of the Museum with an Interactive Gallery. On this floor, there is a touch screen where you can select an artifact and read about it. There is also an Interactive Step Video. There are also portraits of the Civil Rights Movement and other moments in Black History.


Level 3: Community Galleries (Power of Place, Making a Way Out of No Way, African American Military, Sports: Leveling the Playing Field)

This is one of my favorite floors to visit next to the last floor that I will cover later. This is the floor that pays tribute to our Impact within the Church, the Military, Education, and Sports. As soon as you walk into this gallery, you will see artifacts such as a desk from a small school in the early 1900's. You will also see artifacts from the Church during the early 20th Century. As you continue to explore, you will also see a display dedicated to the African American Military. It is an awesome experience to see how we have made contributions to the different Departments of the U.S. Military. The Artifact that stood out the most in the Military section is the uniform that Marcus Garvey wore. Next, we see an Exclusive Exhibit for the Greatest of All-Time: Muhammad Ali. This display has Ali's Robe, his headgear that he wore during training, signed Boxing Gloves and a ring bell. There are also posters of his fights as well as videos of him. Ali's impact reached far beyond the Boxing Ring. There is also a section dedicated to the Bronx, the Birthplace of Hip-Hop. In this display, you can see the turntables along with vinyl records, and concert posters as well as a video from 1979-80. I would also like to point out the tribute for Shirley Chisolm, the very FIRST Woman to run for President, contrary to the narrative that the media spins to make it look like Hillary was the first. As we move along, we reach my favorite part of this floor, the Sports Section. Here, we see the contributions of African Americans in Sports, as we have been known to dominate whatever we touch. In the middle of this section, there is a statue display of the Runners from the 1968 Olympics. An Iconic part of not only African American Sports, but Sports overall. As you go inside, there is an outstanding display of Olympic Artifacts, from Ali's Olympic Uniform in 1960, all the way to the Dream Team in 1992 with a special autographed Basketball from Magic Johnson. As you dive in deeper, you will see the Basketball section which is the most detailed section of the Sports Department. As you go inside, you are treated to a wealth of Basketball History, with a Statue of Michael Jordan's last shot against the Jazz in the 1998 NBA Finals. I also enjoyed the Artifacts such as Julius Erving's ABA Basketball along with his 1983 Championship Ring with the 76ers. It was also great to see autographed shoes from Shaquille O'Neal, Karl Malone, and George Gervin to name a few. Bill Russell's autographed jersey was another classic piece of memorabilia. You will also see a great statue of Jesse Owens along with Serena and Venus Williams. There are also tributes to Jackie Robinson, Jim Brown, Arthur Ashe, Jack Johnson and others. The Sports display is called the Michael Jordan Hall for Game Changers.

Most Notable Artifacts:
Marcus Garvey Uniform
Muhammad Ali Display
Olympic Memorabilia
Michael Jordan Statue
1968 Olympic Statue
Venus & Serena Statue
Jesse Owens Statue
Bill Russell Jersey
Shaq's Shoe
Dr. J ABA Basketball
1983 NBA Championship Ring
Tommie Smith's warm up suit from the 1968 Olympics




Level 4: Cultural Galleries (Musical Crossroads, Taking the Stage)



This was the coolest floor in the entire Museum, followed by the Sports & Military Section on the Third Floor. As I went up to this floor, it felt like I died and went to Heaven. As soon as I got into the Musical Crossroads area, it felt like a party. There was so much to take in, and the artifacts were absolute pieces of beauty. From Chuck Berry's Cadillac to Michael Jackson's outfit from the Jackson 5, James Brown's Jumpsuit, to the Parliament-Funkadelic Mothership. Where do I even begin? It looks like I already did. It was a "Who's Who?" of different Music Legends on Display. On each side of the Mothership, you had the outfits that George Clinton and Bootsy Collins wore. Public Enemy's Boombox and Run DMC's Adidas were also up for Display. Whitney Houston and Dionne Warwick's Dresses were in the display case along with Whitney's American Music Award. In the middle of the floor was what I call a "Music Wall" with a list of African-American Artists throughout history with Famous Quotes in the middle. Inside of this wall, they showed a series of performances from Marion Anderson, James Brown, Jimi Hendrix all the way to Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean" performance at the Motown:25 Celebration. There was even a tribute to Go-Go Music as well as a tribute for Frankie Beverly & Maze. It was African-American Music History in its purest form. It was an honor to see how we have been the Architects that shaped the landscape of Music. There was also an Interactive Area where you could choose what music you wanted to listen to. From Stevie Wonder to Michael Jackson to Biggie Smalls. Whatever you wanted they had it. On this same floor, you had the "Taking the Stage" Area which pays tribute to our contributions and impact in TV and Films. From Good Times to the Cosby Show, along with other shows, we have had a strong presence in the world of television. Modern shows such as Boondocks and Blackish were also featured. There was also a tribute to Black Hollywood. With Costumes and Posters from Cleopatra Jones, Boyz N The Hood, Sister Act to 12 Years a Slave. There was also a piece highlighting Sidney Poitier's impact in Film. I would have to say that this was the most detailed floor along with the previous floor. In the Cultural Expressions section, there are a number of artifacts ranging from Salt & Pepa's earrings, Michael Jordan's Air Jordan 1 Shoes, a Dashiki, among other items.

Most Notable Artifacts:
Chuck Berry's Cadillac
Music Wall
Michael Jackson's Fedora
Jackson 5 Outfit
James Brown's Black Cape
Parliament-Funkadelic Mothership
Public Enemy Boombox
Run DMC Sneakers
JJ Evans Hat
Flip Wilson's Geraldine Dress
Earth, Wind & Fire Outfit
Michael Jordan's Air Jordan 1 Shoes


In Conclusion, this magnificent journey through Black History was a dream come true. It is amazing to see how we have been such instrumental pioneers in the shaping of this country. As former President Obama said in the opening ceremony, we are not a side note of history. Black History is American History. It was great to see our History told the right way, instead of being whitewashed by the media. African-Americans have been at the forefront of the most significant movements in American History. We have been the revolutionaries and visionaries behind the biggest events of society. The best thing about this is the fact that people from all other races and cultures enjoy this journey of history as well. It is a fantastic learning experience and makes me proud of my Heritage. Without question, this is the most popular museum and the best museum that I have ever been to.

Black History shapes the fabric of American History.

10/10

The Legacy of Michael Jackson's "Off the Wall"

Recently, I ordered the Double Disk set of Michael Jackson's "Off the Wall" Album along with the Spike Lee Documentary "Michael Jackson's Journey from Motown to Off the Wall". I heard so many great things about this documentary, so I knew that I needed to watch it for myself as a long time fan of Michael Jackson. Seven years have passed since his untimely death, so I believe that enough dust has cleared for people to appreciate Michael more for his timeless musical artistry instead of only remembering him for the caricature that the media made him out to be. This Documentary was very well organized and polished as Spike does extensive research into Michael's Decorated History from his time with his Brothers in the Iconic Jackson 5 all the way to his breakthrough as a Solo artist. The Title speaks for itself, as it is truly a journey into Michael's career heading into his First Revolutionary Masterpiece "Off the Wall".

Spike assembled a "Who's Who?" of Guests on this Documentary. Obviously, Michael's family, but also former Motown Powerhouse Berry Gordy. This Documentary also features Michael's contemporaries like Stevie Wonder, Verdine White from Earth, Wind and Fire, along with his Producer Quincy Jones, as well as those that were influenced by him, from Questlove of the Roots, Pharrell Williams, Rodney Jerkins (Darkchild), etc all the way down to songwriters and instrumentalists that he has worked with.

This is a full fledged anatomy of an album that continues to transcend music. Next to "Thriller", this is the Best Michael Jackson Album in my Book and this story shows exactly why it is. The first part of the Documentary focuses on the initial growing pains of Jackson in the group that gave him his first taste of stardom. The Jackson 5 were Black America's answer to the Beatles. They were a group that gave hope and inspiration, because there was nobody like them that appeared on shows like the Mickey Mouse Club or any other platform. The Jacksons were New Edition before New Edition. After a string of smash hits from 1969 and 1970, their popularity went through ebbs and flows as Michael started to mature and reach puberty. Outside of a song like "Dance Machine" it became harder for them to break the glass ceiling of the mainstream R&B Charts. Michael on his own showed signs of stardom with his song "Ben" which he performed at the Oscars in 1973.

Unfortunately, the Brothers were stifled creatively because of their contracts with Motown. In 1975, the Jackson 5 left Motown to sign with Epic Records to gain more creative freedom. Jermaine was the only one that stayed because of his marriage to Gordy's daughter. They rebranded themselves "The Jacksons", but record execs took them as a joke because of their cartoon series, which erroded their credibility as a crossover pop act. However, their managers were savvy enough to persuade Epic /CBS that this family fit their vision of what they wanted.

The Story also talks about how Michael linked up with the Producer that would change his life and his career, Quincy Jones. Michael and Quincy connected during the filming of the Wiz, and they both knew that they were the perfect fit. At this point, Michael was slowly weening away from his brothers and finding more of his own identity.

Michael was always a student of art, as he studied the likes of James Brown, Sammy Davis, Jr, all the way down to Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly. He was always looking for ways to perfect his craft, and that is a significant piece that Lee covers.

The Jacksons hit "Shake Your Body to the Ground" was pivotal in Michael's transition because it was a sign of things to come in "Off the Wall".

I also enjoyed the clips of the Triumph tour in 1981 because it shows how Michael truly was a General on the stage. As great as Beyonce is, she patterned her performances after Michael. No disrespect to B, but Michael is the Ultimate concert performer.

The most fascinating part of this film is the track by track review of the album itself. This is the meat of the film, because we finally get into covering the album that made Jackson an Icon. Pharrell, the Weeknd, Esperanza Spalding and others talk about how innovative this album was from a sonic standpoint.

This album was not only Michael's first with Quincy Jones, but it was also his first with songwriting powerhouse, the late Rod Temperton. Rod was also responsible for Heatwave's "Boogie Nights" and "Always and Forever" as well as George Benson's "Give Me The Night" and "Love X Love". Temperton was the premiere songwriter of the 70's. Three of Jackson's songs on this album were written by Temperton ("Rock with You", "Off the Wall", "Burn This Disco Out"). Their partnership would continue for the Thriller album, as he wrote the title track "Thriller", along with "Baby Be Mine" and "Lady In My Life".

It was also a shame how this album was treated at the time, as they did not even show Michael winning his Grammy for "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough". Instead, a commercial had aired as he received the award. It was a misunderstood gem at the time, worthy of more than one Grammy Award.

Track Listing:

1. Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough:

The scream that Michael makes at the beginning of "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" is not only his scream of freedom, but it would be the signature sound of his career. This song was what set the rest of the album on fire because it was the launching pad for greatness. Side note: Michael also slides in a Star Wars reference when he says "the force".

2. Rock With You:

After "Don't Stop..." Michael cools things down with "Rock With You" which is a Skater's anthem. Michael's disco ball outfit fits the song perfectly, because I can imagine things slowing down at the skating rink as this plays. It's a great slow jam to kick off the weekend. This song has a disco feel to it, but it doesn't have the stigma. In other words, this song transcends it's time. This song gave the template for the black crossover style of music in the early 80's.

3. Working Day and Night:

Michael turns things back up with this song, as it is one of my favorites along with many others. It is a song about the typical working man that works from morning to night, but the rhythm is very explosive. Instead of working day and night, it makes you feel like dancing day and night.

4. Get On The Floor

This song was a smooth but edgy disco/r&b hit, as Michael wrote it with Louis Johnson from The Brothers Johnson. You could recognize Johnson's influence because it sounds like the song Stomp! by the Brothers Johnson themselves. The instrumentals blend perfectly with the way that Michael echoes as he sings.

5. Off the Wall

What else needs to be said? The Title Track was outstanding. It is simply about leaving the stress of the work week on the shelf have fun. As the song says "Life ain't so bad at all, when you're living off the wall". This was the third song on this album to reach the Top 10 singles chart. Clearly one of the top five songs on this album. After all, it is the title track.

6. Girlfriend

This is the most lighthearted song on this album and that is cool. After all, it was written by Paul McCartney, as it would be their first collaboration together. Paul had covered the song previously with his band at the time "Wings" on their album London Town. This was a sign of things to come in the future.

7. She's Out of My Life

This is the Love Ballad of the Album, as Michael expresses heartbreak and sorrow about a girl that is out of his life. He sings with raw heart and emotion. You could feel the pain that he feels as he sings quietly by himself in a chair. I'm sure everyone remembers that video, as it is since become a part of different memes for some time now. Eddie Murphy even used this song as part of his "Delirious" Comedy Show in 1983. This was the original "Let It Burn".

8. I Can't Help It:

This was written by fellow Music Icon Stevie Wonder, along with Susaye Greene, a later member of the Supremes. You can tell it has Stevie's influence, because it sounds like it could fit on "Songs in the Key of Life". Jackson's vocals give the song that perfect nocturnal feel to it.

9. It's the Falling In Love

Another great Love Ballad. This time, Michael sings a duet with Patti Austin, who is most known for her work with James Ingram. Side note: Temperton also wrote the song "Baby Come to Me" by Austin and Ingram.

10. Burn This Disco Out

The perfect way to end this album as it symbolizes the end of the Disco Era. The party was coming to an end and this is what it is about.

With Off The Wall, Jackson became the first solo artist to have four singles from the same album reach the top 10 ("Don't Stop...", "Rock With You", "She's Out of My Life").

Conclusion:

This album has been one of the premiere revolutionary albums of all-time, because the sound goes beyond the time period. Michael, Quincy and others made sure that this Masterpiece did not make any wrong moves to become dated. It was crucial in making the transition from the Disco Era to usher in the sound of the 80's. It was pivotal in establishing Michael's breakthrough as a singles star. There was enormous pressure, and he exceeded expectations on every side. Off the Wall was very slick and sophisticated R&B-pop, which explains why Jackson wears a tuxedo on the cover. Very symbolic. Off the Wall received great critical reviews from major publications. It has received 5 Stars from each of them, including Rolling Stone Magazine. Rolling Stone even ranked it number 68 on the list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All-Time. When it comes to cultural impact, this album broke many records for Black Artists, as it helped to open doors for Michael to do things no other Black Artist before him had ever done. This is also considered by many to be their favorite MJ Album, no matter what race or background.

Awards:
1980 Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance: "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough"
Three American Music Awards: Favorite Soul/R&B Album, Favorite Male Soul/R&B Artist, Favorite Soul/R&B Single "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough"

Overall, Off The Wall was Michael's most Important Album because it perfectly set the tone for his Greatest Album ever, the Generation Defining Thriller. Michael laid the blueprint for other artists to follow when they want to leave a group and break out on their own. As a die-hard Michael Jackson fan, it is something for me to be truly proud of. For anyone else that is a true Michael fan, this would also make you proud.

Spike's Story of Michael's Journey along with this Genius Album receive 5 Stars.