African American Museum Of Iowa — Attraction in Cedar Rapids

Having recently been to the holocaust museum, I wasn't sure what I was in store for here. Luckily it wasn't nearly as traumatizing of an experience, and was more one of education and disgust for prior generations, elders, and southerners that I felt. There's a ton to read in the first section and it's disturbing but very informative details on the slave trade. Then you go into accomplishments of African American scientists, athletes, president, etc. The current exhibit that I believe changes was racist items from the past. It's curious that people could ever think some of these things were acceptable or funny. Many people seem to act like this is far gone history, when it's kind of not. I'm a middle aged white guy and even I knew someone who knew a slave first hand. So if you think about it, it really wasn't that long ago, and this isn't something we should ignore or forget. Especially with everything...

This is an important landmark within Iowa for better understanding its history of African American life and contributions. While not a large museum, it has a design that is highly conducive to reflection and offers a wealth of historical stories that need to be heard. It is also a great place to take families, as children and adults alike need to be thoughtfully educated not only about African American oppression, but also the immense achievements and inherent value African...

This is an extraordinary museum for the little known and underappreciated contributions of African American arrival and achievements to Iowa. The curators have done a wonderful job in the permanent display(re-done a couple of times since the museum had opened) and the temporary exhibits-sometimes in cooperation with other AA museums ) are usually well done and always of interest to historians and students of culture and...