Considered important, the single thing we chose to commemorate as theory with a plaque were memorable speeches of two powerful men. And that block, i think, explains why this museum is so necessary. Because that same object , tellsd, put in context us so much more. As americans, we rightfully pass on the tails of the giant who whot this the giants built this country, who led armies into battle, who waged seminole debates in the halls of congress and the corridors of of power. Orridors but too often we have ignored or forgot the stories of millions upon millions of others. Who built this nation just as surely. Whose calloused hands, whose steady drive helped build cities, erect industries, build the arsenals of democracy. Museum this national helps to tell a richer and fuller story of who we are. It helps us better understand , yes, of the president , but also the slaves. The industrialists, but also the porter. Quo,eeper of the status those seeking to overthrow that status quo. Cookeacher or the alongside the statesman. Story,knowing this other we better understand ourselves and each other. Together. S it reaffirms that all of us are americans. Africanamerican city history is not somehow separate from our larger americans story. Its not the other side of the american story. It is central to the american story. Glory derives not just from our most obvious triumphs, but how we have gone from triumph to tragedy and how we have been able to remake ourselves. Again and again and again. In accordance with our highest ideals. American i, too, am american. The great historian, john franklin, who helped get this museum started, once said, good history is a Good Foundation for a better present and future. Understood the best history does not just sit behind a glass case. Understand what is outside the case. The best history helps us recognize the mistakes we have the dark corners of the human spirit we need to guard against, and yes, a clear eyed view of history can make us uncomfortable. It will shake us out of familiar narratives. But it is precisely because of discomfort we learn and grow and harness our collective nation moree this perfect. That is the american story this tells, one of suffering and the light. One of fear, but also hope. Wondering in the wilderness and then seeing out on the horizon the glimmer of the promised land. It is in this embrace of truth, andest as we can know it the celebration of the entire realcan experience where patriotism lies. As president bush just said, a great nation does not shy from the truth. It strengthens us, it emboldens us. It should fortify patriotism tof understand where we have been and this museum tells the story of so many patriots. Yes, africanamericans have felt the full weight of shackles and the stealing the stinging lash, but we have dared to run north and sing songs. We have buttoned up our union blues two join the fight for our freedom. We have railed against injustice for decade upon decade, a lifetime of struggle and progress and enlightenment that douglass in frederick s mighty lien on gays. This museum tells the story of a people Frederick Douglass gaze. Leonin this museum tells the story of a people you fell to their but it also tells the ,tory of black and white people straightbacked, so full of dignity, on those lunch counter stools. The story of sixyearold ruby , fresh pressed dress, walking that gauntlet to get to school. The Tuskegee Airmen soaring the to beat a just dictator, but to reaffirm the promise of our democracy and remind us that all of us are created equal. To understandace how protest and love of the coexist,o not merely but inform each other. How men can proudly win the gold for their country, but still st how we can wear and i cant a breathe tshirt and still grieve for our Fallen Police officers. How this belongs among the cake of the godfather of soul. We have shown how we can float like butterflies, sting like bees, we can rocket into space homemae jemison and still like jackie, stir the pot like we can beyor, and sick and tired of being sick and tired and still rocksteady like aretha franklin. Large, what whitman told claiming multitudes. We are large. Full of contradictions. That is america. Makes us go. That is what makes us extraordinary. And as is true for america, so is true for the africanamerican experience. America. T a burden on or stain on america. Or an object of pity or charity for america. We are america. [applause] museumt is what this explains. Our stories have shaped every corner of our culture. The struggles for freedom that took place, made our constitution a real and living shaped andested and profoundand made more its meaning for all people. The story told here does not just belong to black america. Americans. To all the africanamerican experience has been shaped just as much by europeans and agents and native americans and latinos. We have informed each other. We are polyglot. We are a stew. Scripture promised that if we lift up the oppressed that our lights will rise in the darkness and our nights will become like the noon day. And the story contained in this museum makes those words possible. And that is what this day is about. That is what this museum is about. Too, am american. It is a glorious story, the one that is told here. It is complicated and it is messy and it is full of contradictions as all Great Stories are. Scriptureseares, the , and it is a story that perhaps needs to be told now more than ever. A museum alone will not alleviate poverty in every innercity or every rural hamlets. It wont eliminate gun violence from all of our neighborhoods or immediately ensure that justice is always colorblind. It wont wipe away every instance of discrimination in a Job Interview or a sentence hearing or folks trying to rent an apartment. Those things are up to us. The decisions and choices we make. They require speaking out and so ouring and voting values are fully reflected in our values and policies in our communities. But what this museum does show us is that even in the face of oppression, even in the face of unimaginable difficulty. Forward. As moved museum provides context for our debates of the past. Us someinates and gives sense of how they of all and perhaps keeps them in proportion. Perhaps they can help the white visitor understand the pain and anger of demonstrators in places like ferguson and charlotte. But it can also help black the factappreciate that not only is this Younger Generation carrying on positions of the past, but within the White Communities across the nation we see the sincerity of Law Enforcement officers and officials who, through fits and starts, are struggling to understand and are trying to do the right thing. Us that routine discrimination and jim crow are not ancient history. In the eye oflink history. It was just yesterday. And so, we should not be surprised that not all the healing is done. We should not despair that it is not all solved. Knowing the largest story should remind us how remarkable the changes that have taken place truly are. Just in my lifetime. And thereby inspire us to further progress. I this museum can help us talk to each other, and more importantly, listen to each importantly, see each other. Black and white and latino and native american and ournamerican, see how stories are bound together and found together with women in america and workers in america and entre than yours in america s. D lgbt american and for young people who did not live through the struggles represented here, i hope you draw strength from the changes that have taken place. See the power of your own agency. See how Young John Lewis was. Children. Who transformed and nation. In the blink of an eye. People, come here and see your ability to make your mark. The very fact of the state does ,ot prove america is perfect but it doesnt validate the this of our founding, that country born on change, this , thisy born of revolution people thise the. Ountry can get better that is why we celebrate. Mindful that our work is not yet done. Mindful that we are but a waystation on this journey to common freedom and how glorious it is that we enshrine it here on some of our nation realm most hallowed ground. At the same place where lives were once traded, but also hundreds of thousands of americans of all. Olors and creeds once marched how joyful it is that the story takes its rightful place alongside jefferson who declared our independence and washington who made it real and alongside lincoln who saved our union. The g. I. s defended it, alongside the new monuments to a outward, summoning howo that mountaintop righteous it is we tell the story here. For almost eight years, i have been blessed with the extraordinary honor of serving office and time and again [applause] time and again i have flown low over this small on marine one, often with michelle and our and president clinton, president bush, laura, they will tell you, it is an incredible site. Across theght Washington Monument it feels like you can reach out and touch it. At and at night if you turn the other way, you do not just see the Lincoln Memorial. It is lit up and you can see the spirit glowing from that building. And we do not have many trips left. But over the years, i have always been comforted as i have watched this museum rise from into this remarkable tribute, because i know years you,now, like all of michelle and i will be able to come here to this museum and not just bring our kids, but ipefully our grandkids, imagine holding the little hand them thedy and tell that are enshrined here and they will be able to do the same. And we will go to the Lincoln Memorial and we will take them to the Washington Monument and together we will learn about americans. S delights, and our our triumphs. Sufferings, our delights, and our triumphs. And we will walk away better for it. We have a better grasp of the truth. That much moreay in love with this country, the only place on earth where this story could have unfolded. [applause] monument no less than. He others on this small for, we, too, are americans. So, from up top president bush was so, im on time. President bush was timing me. He had the over under on 25. [laughter] let us now open this museum to the world. We have with us a family that went through the arc of our progress, the bomber family, for generations in all, starting with gorgeous sevenyearold christine and going up to gorgeous 99yearold ruth. [applause] ruths father, a lie just odom, was born into servitude in mississippi. He was born a slave. As the young boy though, he ran to his freedom. He lived through reconstruction and he lived through jim crow. But he went on to farm and graduate from medical school. And gave life to a beautiful with awe see today spirit reflected in beautiful christine. Equal in the laws of her country and the eyes of god. So, in a brief moment, their family will join us in ringing a First Baptist church in virginia, one of the oldest lakh churches in america, 1776 in a grove of trees. And the sound of this bell will be sounded in houses of worship all across this country, and that goal of ringing the bells masturbation more than a century and a half ago, the sound and the anthem of american freedom. God bless you. God bless the United States of america. [applause] [bell ringing] [applause] [bell ringing] [applause] [cheers and applause] [bells ringing] chatter]ct hearting with a rejoicing resound [indistinct lyrics] give us forever in thy house, we pray [indistinct lyrics] let our heart worldwith the wine of the theee give to [indistinct lyrics] please join in and sing. Singift evry voice and til earth and heaven ring ring with the harmonies of liberty let our rejoicing rise skiess the listning let it resound loud as the rolling see loud as the rolling sea sing a song full of faith that the dark past has taught us sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us facing the rising sun of our new day begun the victory on till is won voice and sing [applause] this concludes the dedication ceremonies for the National Museum of African American. Istory and culture please stay in your seats. Our staff will notify you when it is time for your group to approach the museum and enter. Thank you. At last come along overnely days are songife is like a at last [captions Copyright National cable satellite corp. 2016] [captioning performed by the national captioning institute, which is responsible for its caption content and accuracy. Visit ncicap. Org] [captions Copyright National cable satellite corp. 2016] this has been live coverage from the National Mall of the dedication ceremony of the National Museum of African American history and culture. Here on cspan three, we will be reentering the ceremony at 4 p. M. , eight p. M. , and midnight eastern time and again sunday morning at 8 a. M. Eastern time. To continue the conversation and tell us your thoughts on the museum opening, please come to our Facebook Page cspanhistory, or join us on , cspanhistory. Is on everytory tv weekend on cspan3. American history tv spoke last week with key members of the design team responsible for the look and feel of the new smithsonian National Museum of African American history and culture. We will hear what inspired the andums distinctive shape the American History gallery. This is 20 minutes. David hi, in david adjaye. Designer. Ead i was the principal architect in the team that delivered the materials, the sequence, the feeling when you enter the building. What feeling did you hope it would convey . David that it would connect to this very unique location on the National Mall, but also a very unique feeling to explore the view, and at the top of the museum you have this fantastic panorama video to see right over the potomac river, etc. You have an International Background. Can you tell us about that and how it hasnt informed your work on this very American Museum . David i was born in tanzania. I was born in the heart of the continent. As a teenager, i grew up in london. I started my practice about 20 years ago. My practice is always have an international outlook. We have worked all over the projects, theto center in oslo that gave us the peace prize, but also Community Projects like schools, building buildings nbc, even before this competition libraries, housing in new york. When we were asked to join this competition, it was an extraordinary moment that we were thrilled to be part of but we felt it was such a complicated project we wanted to form a large team that could deliver the best we could. What perspective has your International Background given to your work on the museum . David it has given me the ability to see the story from a different perspective. Its emotional to me, too, but not in the same way. I do not have family who went through the slave trade in that way. And also in modernity, these struggles of the Africanamerican Community reflected the aspirations of the entire black Community Around the world. It is something we all look to now as a shared narrative. Understand the Exterior Design of the museum was your inspiration. Where did that come from . David that was from understanding the Africanamerican Community comes from the central and west of africa and there is no ofraordinary tradition architecture that creates these incredible structures and i felt that it would be prudent to take to make a reference to that extraordinary tradition so African Americans now who do not know about those incredible traditions would understand the place they came from have these incredible traditions and that is part of their narrative, part of their history, too. Also the work of African American workers who were extraordinary who built the beautiful houses that we know in the south and the incredible work of those houses that are a signature around the world, predominantly billed by slaves. We wanted to honor that tradition of labor and craft. You see this incredible detail, which is that language. Theyese motifs, are evidenced on the exterior Plantation Homes in the south . David they are. If you see some of the main houses where they have iron work , it is really about the leif wrapping into grids of iron. We used Computer Technology to describe the way that the ornament is made. It is really drawing how the ornament is made, which is representative on this building. We are standing in the Oprah Winfrey theater. That is used in the same design. Can you expect how . David its the exact same pattern. We wanted you to feel you were in the heart of the building. On the inside, you are the center and the buildings surrounds here. The porch element to the museum is significant. Can you tell us why . David we wanted to create this idea of living inside, outside, living under shade was very important. So, we worked with our engineers and landscape designers to structureantilevered which creates a microclimate, incredible shade, and draws the winds there. And a hot, summers day, youre able to come to the museum and just come to the welcome of shade before you continue on your journey and let the cooling effect of those breezes really on the porch of the water pool. Tell us about the symbolism. Importanter is an foundational element for the community. It also, labor and the south, irrigation and water was very much part of the coastal nature of the agrarian south. I think that is something that the Africanamerica