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Lessons from the National Great Blacks in Wax Museum
Posted on September 5, 2024 in Blog Posts
Authors:
Ashleigh Coren
Wax figure of Mary McLeod Bethune, National Great Blacks In Wax Museum. Photo: Ashleigh D. Coren
The National Great Blacks in Wax Museum in Baltimore is a fantastic institution that I visited for the first time in July. When it opened at its current site in 1983, the concept of a wax museum focused on the history of Black Americans was groundbreaking. While the museum’s historic timeline seems to end around 2008 (with the election of former President Barack Obama), its approach to storytelling and design remains direct, affecting, and refreshingly honest. Telling the complex history of Black people in America through a museum setting is a daunting task, but the National Great Blacks in Wax Museum demonstrates that the best storytellers keep it simple and focus on the needs of their audience. The institutional promise, “a mission to show truth,” speaks to this powerful and necessary approach.
As a content strategist, I regularly visit museums and cultural heritage sites to inform my work. This hands-on approach helps me identify the emotions I want to evoke through the use of art and primary sources in my digital storytelling projects. By experiencing these feelings firsthand, I can more effectively capture and convey them to inspire meaningful dialogues around race, culture, and history on digital platforms. My recent visit revealed three key lessons about effectively displaying and sharing stories of Black history in America.
1) Evoking feelings of discomfort and despair can be acceptable if approached thoughtfully, as it may spark meaningful inquiry and reflection.
The first gallery is a replica of a 19th-century slave ship, featuring wax figures that depict the horrors of the Middle Passage. As I walked through the space with a friend, I found myself making excuses to turn away and avoid engaging with the displays of maimed figures and physical illness on the ship. I had to ask myself why I couldn’t focus and what was preventing me from fully taking it all in.
Reflecting on my discomfort, I questioned the curatorial and interpretive choices behind these powerful exhibits. While learning these difficult histories, why is it so important to show all facets of the story, even the most painful parts? The exhibits’ boldness in not shying away from the brutality is essential to understanding the history of racism in the United States. Rather than simply telling, the museum is showing us where we came from and how we got here, which will ultimately help us appreciate the joy and innovation that emerged in spite of such atrocities.
2) Understanding that “community development and cultural development go hand-in-hand.”1
The National Great Blacks in Wax Museum is a reflection and celebration of Baltimore’s artistic and business communities. Much of the material used for the wax figures and displays, including the sets, wigs, jewelry, and clothing, comes from donations by local artisans and businesses, showcasing the care and attention put into each object.
The museum recognizes its role as a space for learning and fellowship, rather than an institution focused on navel-gazing. It is as much a celebration of Black resilience as it is a celebration of the history of Black Baltimore. The museum’s excellent interpretation and storytelling is not solely the work of curators and historians. It is enhanced by the ideas and contributions of the local community. Co-curation is a hallmark of the museum, empowering local businesses and establishing trust between the institution and its neighborhood.
3) We should honor all historical figures, not just the pioneers and groundbreakers.
The final lesson focuses on recognizing the diverse roles people play in driving change and innovation—no single role is more vital than another. One of the museum’s newer exhibitions celebrates the history of the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, highlighting the varied backgrounds of its members, including teachers, social workers, and more. The museum makes a conscious effort to showcase individuals from all walks of life, conveying the message that anyone, regardless of their field or background, has the power to create positive change, whether in the public sphere or within their own communities. Our legacies and impact are defined by how we work to build more equitable futures for those who come after us.
While in Baltimore, be sure to visit the National Great Blacks in Wax Museum for a unique and compelling learning experience.
Notes
- “Black History is Everyone’s History,” The National Great Blacks in Wax Museum. Accessed September 1, 2024. https://www.greatblacksinwax.org/about.
About the author:
Ashleigh Coren is a content strategist, educator, and curator based in the Washington, D.C. area.
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Header image is a detail of This is Harlem by Jacob Lawrence. Courtesy of Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden. © 2021 The Jacob and Gwendolyn Knight Lawrence Foundation, Seattle / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York. For more information, click here.