National Voting Rights Museum and Institute — Attraction in Alabama

DO NOT TAKE CHILDREN! My school did the footprints to freedom tour on an AP African American history field trip and the second museums roleplay left everyone traumatized. The tour guide patted the boys down, asked the girls to stick out their hands and open their mouths. It only got worse with tight, dark spaces with over 40 of us in one small room (triggering multiple panic attacks). The N-word was used consistently to humiliate students as well as calling 15-18 year old girls wenches and “my wenches”. At the end of the roleplay, students were “murdered” and two students were posed with nooses around their necks and multiple girls were limp on the floor. I believe the message of the exhibit was incredibly important and the overall experience is very important and well done, it just needs to be better communicated. No where on the website does it state what happens on this tour, nor do many reviews. Informed consent is incredibly important especially with such an intense and deep issue, there was none. Adults were told some “rough language would be used to describe the middle passage” and in no way shape or form was the reality communicated to teachers/parents. The exhibit itself should remain how it is but warnings of the reality of what is about to happen to people should be communicated, exits should be pointed out and encouraged in times of emotional distress, and age restrictions should be put into place as this is no tour for children. I hope this inspires someone to choose a different tour for their...

More a memorial for the black lynchings. I understand the the history and the inhumane that went on. But teaching from the start of arrival ( the tragedy started before that ) to the states and the inhumanity that the white a did to the blacks. Only pic of white boy was with him showing hatred with derogatory signage to the blacks. History is important to teach but promoting hatred is not. Even the presentation of the voting questions were skewed. Did it happen , YES ! SO just present the truth . Other races helped and felt for the black population back then ( just like in Holocaust , always will be good character in people no matter what color ) but didn't see any of that presented. Just think the whole truth needs to be presented, you could take a page from Greenwood ( in Tulsa ) exhhibit.....highly impact full and they got the story across very effectively and our government and officials involvement, the people of power. Hope didn't offend anybody not my intention just giving feedback, but came away with feeling white racism. All for all history and not erasing it but we all need to learn to move forward with less hatred and teaching only one side is promoting the inability to...

I was there on Thursday the 12th, just as a Tornado ripped down on the town - My first experience as a Northerner! Not only did I get a very interesting museum visit, I also witnessed the true dedication of the Park Ranger and Manager on Staff as it hit. We all backed into an old bank vault conveniently in the building but barely needed, as the Ranger said the walls were over 4 ft thick. I was a little disappointed that due to power being out I could only look, and purchase nothing - BUT the staff told me where to go along the Civil Rights Trail (which I was there for already) and MET ME there (where the second tornado hit 😰. There He personally walked me through, and I got to buy the March Merch!

All in all, a truly memorable experience ✨️

PS God - I do not need any more supernatural reminders of how much pain the beautiful amazing people of the south have undergone. ... That being said, I plan on coming down again in June, I will pay more attention to the weather lol. Awesome place!!! Rest in The Deepest Peace Marchers, the...