rent apartment washington dc

ladies and gentlemen please welcome our distinguishedspeakers please welcome the 43rd president of the united states george w bush and formerfirst lady ms.â laura bush ladies and gentlemen the president of the united states accompaniedby first lady michelle obama. please remain standing for the national anthem.who's so proudly we hailed at the twilights last gleaming whose broad stripes and brightstars through the perilous fight o'er the ramparts we watch were so gallantly streaming. andthe rockets red glare, the bombs bursting in air gave proof through the night that ourflag was still there. oh say, does that star spangled banner yet wave o'er the land of the free andthe home of the brave. the brave.please welcome pastor of the abysinnian baptist

church in new york city reverend dr.â calvino butts the third. it's hard to believe that it's been four yearssince we were first here for the ground breaking what a tremendous accomplishment and a specialword of appreciation goes out to brother lonnie bunch. only through his efforts and dedicatedstaff that worked with him was this able to be accomplished. the night is beautiful, soare the faces of my people. the stars are beautiful, so are the eyes of my people. beautifulalso is the sun beautiful also are the songs of my people. say it loud i am black and i'mproud. say it loud i'm black and i'm proud. i'm black and i'm proud.when those thousands of slave ships took us far beyond the sights and smells of our landand far reaching flights of our birds, deposited

us in the carribbean and south america andnorth american. some say how can we sing the lord's song in a strange land but others saidyou can sing if you know the lord. we did sing, we sang spirituals, we sang the blues,langston said they took my blues and gone. they sing them on broadway and they sing themin the hollywood bowl and they put them in symphonies an they fixed them so theydon't sound like me. they took my spirituals and gone. they put them in macbeth and carmen jones,they put them in all kinds of swing mikados but they put them in everything then what'sabout me. one day someone is going to stand up and talk about me. they are going to writeabout me, wait they are going to write about me black and beautiful and they are goingto sing about me and do plays about me and

make movies about me. where is oprah winfreymake movies about me? (laughter) i guess it will be me, yes it will be me. the accomplishmentof many all walks of life coming together to those who made america great, oh yes webuild the wall. we put stick and mud on top of each other so that the dutch would be protectedfrom the english. we built the wall. we built the wall not only literally but we built itfiguratively, anybody could be great me if you had me working for you for 250 years andnever paid me a dime. come on and then we had to try to get it straight the bonner familyis here. her father was in the civil war and civil war tried to straighten it out and afterthe civil war was over france had to send a statue over here to commemorate me. weput it in the harbor of my home, new york city

we call it the statue of liberty. we welcomeeverybody what you want to send people away from. your huddled masses yearning to breathefree the refuge of your teaming shores send tempest tossed to me. i lift my lamp besidethe golden door. we need the museum because it was me that was policy to keep it goldenall of those years. i see this audience in front of me but i know there's across thecountry watching us now and i celebrate this day because not only do i have a chance togive great applause to our president the one an only the man who has done more than thiscountry than i have done in a long time bar rack obama.i want you to know beloved as we stand here. i am this preacher so that's my first finish.i want you to know that the words of inspiration

are meant to say to you that in this museumlonnie has made sure that we have all that we need and in this museum is the blood sweatand tears of generations and in this museum is the blood sweat and tears of men and womenwho have gone out to raise the dollars to make this thing work that's why i am gladthey sat me next to ken chenault. you should give ken a loud applause because he did alot of hard work to get this done. finally, i want to say for the unrest in the nationtoday and i'm very aware of what's going on when i go in here and i walk past the casketof emmett till ‑‑ i am very aware of what's going on. i want you to know that this was onlyaccomplished because men and women of good will black and white rich and poor republicanand democrat put their hearts together and

their minds together and their hands togetherin order to build this great monument to a people who have truly given their all to theunited states of america. finally i want to say that don't be discouraged, listenbeloved don't be discouraged by what's ahead, hold onto your dreams an keep the faith. oneafrican american preacher wrote in the lyrics of a song harder yet maybe this fight.and we often yield to might. wickedness may rain and satan’s cause may gain and thereis a god that rules above and he has a hand of power and a heart of love but if i am righthe will fight my battles and we will be free some day i think we are right. i think dr.â kingwas right. i think marion anderson was right. i think so many who have gone before us areright. i think baa barack obama is right.

if i am right god will fight our battles andwe will be free today. we have a wonderful celebration for us may god bless you and maygod bless the african american history of museum and culture and may god bless america.thank you so much. the secretary of the smithsonian institutiondavid skorton. good morning what a historic day to be togetherhere on the national mall of the united states. it is my distinct pleasure to welcome everyoneto this dawning of a new era at the smithsonian institution today. today we open widethe doors of this museum to people in the nation's capitol and throughout america andacross our world. the dream that so many envisioned is made real. several people who supportedus along the way are here with us this morning

including john lewis representative of georgiafifth district and author of the original legislation to establish the museum and sambrownback governor of kansas and lead senate sponsor and coauthor of the legislation. itis also my great honor to welcome former president and mrs. bush and president and mrs.obama.thank you all for your enthusiastic support of this endeavor welcome the vice presidentjoe biden an dr.â jill biden. mr.â vice president i personally thank you for your work on ourbehalf as a member of the board of regents of the smithsonian and for your commitmentof both of you to the smithsonian and to our newest museum. let me also recognize paulryan, speaker of the house. former president bill clinton, nancy pelosi house leader andrepresentative of california 12th district.

eleanore holmes norton delegate to the districtof columbia and muriel bowser mayor of washington dc. and to the supreme court justices membersof the cabinet and members of congress, members of the diplomatic core and foreign dignitariesan all of our distinguished guests welcome. thank you all for your tremendous supportof the smithsonian and the museum of the african american history and culture. like all of the smithsonianmuseums this one truly belongs to the american people. a museum is many things but two elementsare most important and the people who cure rate preserve, interpret and share it's storiesand the collection itself. the incredible passion for this museum becomes evident whenyou find out about it's collections. the majority of its nearly 37,000 objects 3,000of which are currently on display comes from

individuals and families and memories passeddown through generations and storeâ ed in cup boards and attics an displays on coffeetables. the people that donated these personal mo men toes knew of their great power. theitems displayed within the walls of this museum they revealed profound truths, poignant truthsan the universal truth that the african‑american story is indivisible from the american story.that story is often resilient triumphant and inspiring but it is also tragic. the museumcandidly confronts slavery and gym crow and legacy that is haunt us to this day becauseof it's honesty this museum will spark dialogue not just about our past but about our present.it will be an important part of the national conversation, helping us to more effectivelyface our racial issues and divisions and move

forward somehow together. this striking monumentto african‑american contributions and citizenship this national museum of african‑americanhistory and culture will help us in our common cause of building a more perfect union. toquote lincoln it will strive onto finish the work we are in to bind up the nations wounds.congratulations to director lonnie bunch and to his staff for this remarkable, remarkableachievement and to the museums counsel, the smithsonian regents and all of the staff whohelped make today possible thank you. please welcome the vice chair of the boardsof regents of the smithsonian ins institution and president of the poly technical institutedr.â shirley ann jackson. dr.â jackson: good morning. it is a high honorfor me to be here today i began my life, my

education surrounded by the resources of ournations capital, but in a se greg gated school the people with the highest expectations forme as a young african‑american girl, were my parents. my mother taught my siblings andme to read before kindergarten. my father very mechanically gifted served in world warii in a segregated army unit. during the normandy invasion he repaired the rudders of the amphibiousvehicles bringing the troops to shore which kept breaking. he did this under fire andfor that he received a bronze star. my parents born just 50 years after the end of the civilwar alone, could not have carried me to the life i have had, without the confluence oftwo events that set me on a new projectory and had the smithsonian institution not beenhere to po tensionuate that confluence. the

first was the brown versus board of educationsystem decision, which allowed me to attend integrated schools, instead of traveling milesacross washington to segregated schools. the second was the launch of sputnik one the firstartificial satellite and strengthen it had math and science curriculum in the publicschools in the united states. in junior high school i was placed in an accelerated honorsprogram which led me to mit, where i was one of only two african‑american women in myclass the first ever. now my great fortune was having the smithsonian as an extensionof my classrooms. it opened my eyes to the wonders of the natural world and to science.its art and cultural resources allowed me to understand other eras, places, and livesit developed my empathy, imagination and sophistication.

it took a young girl not from a wealthy backgroundfrom a segregated environment and enriched an ennobled her life immesh measurably. todaywe arrive at another level of confluence, when the smithsonian ins institution launchas museum where the history, culture and the heroism of african‑americans like my father,like congressman john lewis, like our president barack obama and others are recognized fully,constituting a great tribute feeding the larger stream of our national story. now, this isso meaningful for me and for millions like me to see the full story of a people, whocame here enslaved, yet lifted to many others up, and ultimately themselves. we do a verygreat thing today for the millions of children from all over the nation and around the globewho will come to the national museum of african‑american

history and culture be moved and astonished,and emerge with an elevated sense of their own heritage, prospects and their own potential.my father always said: aim for the stars that's what he told us to at least reach the treetops, and be sure to get off the ground. i took his advice, many african‑american'shave aimed high, and their achievements large and small now are given a place of honor hereon the national mall. on behalf of the board of regents of the smithsonian institutioni thank all of you for being here and i thank all of those who brought this to reality.i too sing america, thank you. ladies and gentlemen angela basset and robertdeniro. awe from the time african‑american's werebrought to these shore ins slave ships they

have written down sometime ins secret sometimesin the open air their hurts an heartaches and their joys an music inside this is whatthey said. frederick douglas and abolition nist and escapedslave said this there is one but one destiny left for us that is to make ourselves andbe made by other as part of the american people in every sense of the word. the way to rightwrongs to turn the light off of truth upon them one had better die fighting against industtis than die like a dog. one of the founders of the naacp. muhammadali came off the ropes and he shook the world by speaking truth to power this is what hesaid. champions aren't made in gims. champions are made from something they have deep insidethem, a desire, a dream, a vision and they

have to have last minute stamina, they haveto be a little fast, they have to have the skill and the will, but the will must be strongerthan the skill. when they asked her why she didn't give upher seat on the bus rosa parks said this i wasn't tired old physically i wasn't old iwas 42, the only tired i was was tired of giving in.robert: i believe that if one can experience diversity, touch a variety of its people,laugh at its craziness distill wisdom from it's tragedies an attempt all this in sideitself without going crazy one would have earn it had right to call one self citizenof the united states. so wrote the pulitzer prize author names alan mcfher son. congressmanlewis one of the freedom riders said this

we may not have chosen the time but the timehas chosen us. ours is not a struggle that lasts for a few days, a few weeks, a few monthsor a few years. it is the struggle of a lifetime. thank you.please welcome u.s. representative john lewis. president and ms.â obama, vice president biden,dr.â jill biden president and ms.â bush and president clinton and mr.â chief justice anmembers of the board of regents to the museum advisory counsel and secretary david skortonan dr.â lonnie bunch. to the leadership of the united states congress an all of my colleaguesin both the house and senate and in memory of the late representative micken le landof texas the architects of this incredible building and to all of the staff of the whitehouse, federal agencies, the congress, the

smithsonian who pushed and pulled togetherto make this moment happen, and to all of the construction company's and their crews.i say thank you. thank you for all you did to help lead our society to this magnificentday, as long as there is a united states of america now there will be a national museumof african american history and culture. this is a great achievement. i tell you ifeel like singing the song mahalia jackson sung at the march on washington over 50 yearsago how we got over, how we got over. there were some who said it couldn't happen, whosaid you can't do it, but we did. we we did it we are gathered here today to dedicatea building, but this place is more than a building it is a dream come true. you andi each and everyone of us were caught up in

a seed of light. we were a vision, born inthe minds of black civil war veterans and their supporters. they met right here in washingtondc in 196, exactly 100 years ago, at 19th street baptist church still in existence today,oh say oh say see what a dream can do you should role up the sleeves of the veteransan attach rubble on their bags you might find the wounds of shackles and whips most couldnot read the declaration of independence or write their names but in their hearts burnedan enduring vision of true democracy that no threat of death could ever erase. theyunderstood the meaning of their contribution, and they set a possibility in motion and passeddowning through the ages from the heart to heart and breath to breath. that we are givingbirth today to this museum is a testament

to the dignitary of the dispossessed in everycorner of the globe who yearn for freedom. it is a song to the scholars an scribes, scientistsan teaches to the revolutions and voices of protest, to the ministers an the authors ofpeace, it is a story of life, the story of our lives, wrapped up in a beautiful goldencrown of grace. i can hear the distant voice of my ancestors whispering by the night firesteel away, steel away home we ain't got long to stay here or a big bold choir shouting,i woke up this morning with my mind staying on freedom. all their voices roaming for centurieshave finally found their home here, in this great monument to our pain, suffering, andour victory. when i was a little child growing up in rural alabama a short walk to the cottonfields, but hundreds of miles from washington,

from the washington monument or the lincolnmemorial, my teachers would tell us to cut out photographs of pictures of great african‑americansfor carter g wood son's negro history week, now called african‑american history month.i became inspired by the stories of george washington carver, jackie robinson, rosa parksand so many others who life and work will be enshrined in this museum as these doorsopen, it is my hope that each and every person who vis its this beautiful museum will walkaway deeply inspired and feel greater respect for the dignity an worth of every human beingan a stronger commitment to the ideal of justice, equality and true democracy. thank you.ladies and gentlemen former first lady of the united states ms.â laura bush. i am thrilledto be here today this is such a really terrific

day on decemberâ 16, 2003 president georgew bush authorized the legislation for the establishment of the a new smithsonian museumthe national museum of african‑american history and culture. when i toured the museumwith lonnie bunch last week we reminisced about those beginning days of the museum.the legislation had been authorized and the site had been secured and lonnie had beenhired as the museums director i will never forget lonnie's poignant words whom we considerthe historic and culture significance of what was to become. lonnie paused for dramaticeffect or so i thought and then said what do we do now? lonnie look what you have done.you and your team have truly achieved a monumental achievement congratulations. our next speakersign it had legislation and assure it had

museums place on the national mall. my husbandpresident george w bush. george w bush: thank you all. thank you darling.laura has been very much engageâ ed in this museum for a long time she sits on the boardand we are honored to be here. my first reaction is i hope all of our fellow citizens comeand look at this place it is fabulous. mr. president and vice president and chief justice.i do want to give a shout out to lonnie. it's really important to understand this projectwould not and could not have happened without his drive, his energy and his optimism. fifteenyears ago members from both party congressman john lewis and sam brownbeck then senatorfrom kansas informed me they were about to introduce legislation create ago new museumto share the stories an celebrate the achievements

of african american's. it would be fairto say that the congress and i did not always see eye to eye if you know what i mean mr.president? (laughter). this one issue we strongly agreed. i was honortoday sign the bill authorizing the construction of this national treasure i am pleased itnow stands where it always belonged is on the national mall sm this pleu seem in additionto our country for many reasons here are three. first it shows our commitment to truth andgreat nation does not hide it's history it phrases it's flaws and corrects them. thismuseum tell it is truth that a country founded on the promise of liberty held million inschains and that the price of our union was america's original sin. from the beginningsome spoke the truth john adams who called

slavery an evil of colossul magnitude. theirvoices were not heated and often not heard but there were always known to a power greaterthan any on earth one who loves his children and meant them to be free. second, this museumchose america's capacity to change, for century slavery and segregation seemed permanent.permanent parts of our national life but not the nat turner, or fredrick douglas or harriettubman or rosa parks or martin luther king jr. all answered cruelty with courage andhope and in a society governed by the people, no wrong lasts forever. after struggle ansacrifice, the american people, acting through the most democratic of means amended the constitutionthat originally treated slaves as three fifths of a person to guarantee equal protectionof the laws. after decades of struggle, civil

rights and voting rights acts were finallyenacted. even today, the journey toward justice is still not complete, but this museum willinspire us to go farther and to get there faster. finally, the museum showcase it istalent of some of our finest americans. the galleries celebrate not only african americanequality, but african american greatness. i can't help but note that ‑‑ applause‑‑ i cannot help that note that a huge influence in my teenage years is honored herethe great chuck berry. (laughter) or my baseball idol growing up in fall west texas the greatwillie mays and of course something i never really master it had ability to give goodspeech but thurgood marshal sure could. as some of you know i'm a fledgling painter astruggling artist (laughter) i have a new

appreciation for the artists who brilliantworks are displayed here henry os walled tanner and charles henry austin. our country is betteran more vibrant because of their contributions and the contributions of millions of africanamerican's. and no telling of american history is either complete nor accurate without acknowledgingthem. the lessen of this museum is that all american's share a past and a future. by stayingtrue to our principles, and righting injustice, and encouraging the empowerment of all, wewill be an each greater nation for generations to come. icon garage late all of those whoplay add role in creating this wonderful museum. may god bless us all.ladies and gentlemen stevie wonder. thank you so very very much. i haven't seenit yet but i am going to. i was born blind

but i was blessed with innervision, innervisionsees we all know and feel. and i know and feel that we must come together this cannotgo on. all of it any of it it just can't go on all of the back and forth and the hatredand trying to divide us as a united people of united states of america and other countriesgetting involved in our business and no, it can't go on. history has shown us that wecan rise and we can climb out of all of these moments that should informer define us butremind us that we can come together. as we have and as we can and as we will. as youclimb the stairs of this magnificent testament and you visit the story of a people of a countryand a spirit remember our strength and remember our courage and know that we must come togetherwe must come together, think about that, and

as you think can i ask all of you one question?just one question that only you can answer my question is where is our love song? ⶠⶠwhereis our song of love? where is our song of love not a song love between you and me buta song of love for all humanity where is our love song? i desperately need a song of loveⶠⶠwhere are our words of love? oh how we need the words of love, not the kind ofhope that leaves all of this behind but the kind of hope that lifts up all human kind,where are our love words, i desperately need words of hope. ⶠâ¶. i guess the words weare singing will have to sing them forever more yeah it's like you have never heard themsing it before? ⶠⶠnot just on the urban streets rand everyone country for heat andpain and killing fees. i desperately need

peace. not a love song between you and i buta song that touches the universe to the heavennings high where is our love song i desperatelyneed some love. oh of beings for you and me for them and us ⶠⶠⶠⶠⶠⶠⶠⶠⶠⶠⶠⶠâ¶please welcome chancellor of the smithsonian ins institution and the chief justice of theunited states john g roberts jr. thank you for scheduling me right after steviewonder. supreme court court decisions dred scott versus sanford, plessy versus fergusonand brown versus board of education. equal justice under law. this museum provide asplace for us to learn what life was like for the brave individuals who brought those fatefulcases to the supreme court. you can see the tragedy of dred and harriet scott in the 1840'sbroad side offering the cash for return of

fugitive slaves. dred scott had traveled widelythroughout the united states with his owner. he met and married harriet in what is nowminnesota and they had two daughters when his owner died he tried to purchase his andhis family's freedom with money he had struggled his whole life to accumulate, the owners widowturned him down only then did he turn to the courts and with the supreme court ruling thathe and his family were not even persons under the constitution. you can see the braveryof homer plessy against the backdrop of the railroad car on display. homer plessy wasa faired skinned man of mixed racial ancestry that was how he was able to purchase a ticketfor the whites only first class compartment, but when the conductor came to collect histicket homer announce that had under louisiana

law he was a black man. he bravely sat inprocess the test case challenging jim crow laws a test that the supreme court would fail.and you can grasp the wrenching dilemma facing oliver and leola brown in the photograph offive young african american women outside their segregated school. how do you balancehope for a better life for your 11 year old daughter against real fear for her personalsafety? oliver an will recollect leola brown were people of strong faith, he was an assistantpastor at his church. together they made the choice to enroll linda in the whites onlyschool. and together they changed the world. you can read the courts decision in dred scottversus sanford and plessy versus ferguson and brown versus board of education and learnwhat the court held, but if you want to know

what those cases were about you need to meetdred and harriett scott, plessy and oliver and leola brown and you can do that in thisnew museum thank you. ladies and gentlemen advisory counsel membersfor the national museum of african american history and culture ken chenault and lindajohnson rice. this is a glorious day on a personal leveli think i feel like many people here i think of my parents and i think of my ancestorsand i think of the chenaults and quicks and they are more at peace today. distinguishedguests and friends it is an honor an privilege to stand with you today like everyone whoserved on the advisory council, i feel a great sense of pride when i look at this magnificentbuilding and when i think about what it represents.

to everyone at the smithsonian to lonnie bunchand his terrific team i thank you for bringing this dream to reality. to the individual donorsand to the foundations, and to the corporations who provided financial support i thank you.the doors will hope here today because of the tremendous support that came from allamerican's black, white, all colors, nationalities an religions, rich and poor and the famousand the family next door. our calls for help was answered by so many because so many believedthat this could be a museum for all americans and you will not be disappointed. it captures,by definition, the history and culture of african‑americans. it will share storiesof struggle and success those who died for freedom and those who paved the way for othersto follow. it will celebrate great achievements

against great odds. it will remind us of thepower of dreams and faith. it will caution us that more work lies ahead and that theroad will not be an easy one. but, as a museum for all americans, it will also remind usthat what brings us together is stronger than what keeps us apart. thank you.linda johnson rice: our emotions today come not only from being officials who were luckyenough to help play a part for being the sons an daughters of those who came before us.we have come to thank our brave ancestor who is are inside this museum. and in the morepersonal way to thank our own families who's courage and tenacity set us on our way. myfather john h johnson left arkansas because there was no high school education and fewopportunities for him or for his mother. they

move today chicago where he was teased forhis raggedy clothes, but his mind was ablaze with new ideas. such as, if white readersloved life magazine wouldn't black reader like to read something about their own livesand aspirations? together with my mother, eunice w johnson they went onto createthe most successful magazines devoted to black life, ebony and jet. theyallowed us to see ourself ins ways we have never had before. to make us proud of whowe are and what we have done and can do. they reflected a full cross section of black america,delivered by our best thinkers, trend setters, activists, celebrities after next generationleaders. more than just magazines they ignited conversation and became a catalyst for progressand pride. i am overwhelmed by what is happening

here on american of history this strong, magnificentbuilding and within it, not just the stories of our struggles and challenges, but of thedecades, really the centuries of african‑american contributions, from all walks of life. todayis a chance for me to share with my daughter and your families, the rich legacy we allcome from, that has left a glorious imprint on the culture of america and the world. thankyou. ladies and gentlemen oprah winfrey and willsmith. you need to wave over to them the people overthere? (laughter). hi everybody. the story of the african americanjourney in their own words this is what they said. history despite it's wrenching pain cannotbe unlived, but if faced with courage, need

not be lived again. maya angelou.will smith: did you just challenge me to a poetry battle? langston hughes called the poem, harlem. what happens to a dream deferred? does it dry up like a raise in the sun? orfester like a sore and then run? does it stink like rotten meat? or crust and sugar over like a syrupy sweet.maybe it just sags like a heavy load or does it explode?i have been in sorrow's kitchen, and i licked out all the pots then i stood on the peaky mountains wrapped in rainbows witha harp and a sword in my hands sometimes, i feel discriminated against but it does notmake me angry. it merely astonishes me. how can anyone deny themselves the pleasureof my company it's beyond me? a writer in the harlem renaissance we love ms.zora.that was hot that was a good one that was

hot i mean? what are the blues they are homegrown black music, that acknowledge the tenuous nature of all human existence. an heroic responseto what is call it had human condition. we invent it had blue it is europeans inventedpsychoanalysis you invent what you need albert murray wrote that.tony morrison the winner of the nobel prize for literature said this. if there's a bookyou want to read but it hasn't been written yet then you must be the one to write it rightafter that yours are really hot yours are really hot.change does not roll in on the wheels of inevitably it comes through continuous struggle so wemust straighten our backs and work for our freedom. a man can't ride your back unlessyour back is bent. so said martin luther king,

jr. i was born by the river in a little tentand just like the river i've been running ever since ⶠⶠit's been a long time coming but i know a change is goneoh yes it's been too hard hard living ⶠⶠbut i'm afraid to die i don't know what's up therebeyond the sky. it's been a long time coming, a long time coming but i know a change isgone come oh yeah oh ‑‑ ⶠⶠi go to the movies said i go downtown my good friendskeep telling me patty patty don't hang around. oh it's been a long time coming, but i knowa change is going to come oh yeah oh yes ‑‑ then i go to my brother ‑‑to my brother.awe i say brother, brother help me please and my brother he minds up knockingme back down on my knees back down on my knees

there's been times i wouldn't last but i thinki'm able, able to carry on oh it's been a long time, lord it's a long time coming buti know a good change is going to come hilary clinton.ⶠâ¶. ⶠplease welcome the founding director ofthe african american museum lonnie bunch. lonnie bunch: today a dream too long defersecond‑degree a dream no longer. what a grand and glorious day to open a museumthat will not just tell of a people's journey but also the nations story. it's hard forme to believe that we are at this moment where we as a nation will finally fulfill the expectationsand hopes of so many generations who believed and labored for a presence on the nationalmall that would help all american's realize

how much that i have been shaped informedand made better by the african‑american experience. we are here at this moment becauseof the commitment and support of so many of you here and thousands of others have corporations,individuals an foundation who is believe that the time had come for the creation of thenational museum of african‑american history and culture. the diversity of the fundingthat is supported this endeavor speaks volumes about the generosity an good will of america.we are so moved by the one hundred thousand people who have become members of museum whoshow me their card and pay 25‑dollars. i got to tell you we are at this moment becauseof the backing of the united states congress and the white house. i cannot thank presidentand ms.â obama and presidents and ms.â bush

enough for all that you have done to bringthis museum to fruition. it truly took an ins institution to build the national museum.we are indebted today the smithsonian institution who's leadership from the regents throughformer secretaries larry small an wayne clougl to the current secretary david skorton havenever wavered in their support of the museum. a crucial components that brought us to thismoment is the staff of the museum. forgive the sports analogy but they are the dreamteam. they are better than the 61 yankees an the 85 beers. you honor them by your theirpresence today because they are best. the foundation the bedrock of this museum hasbeen the council our board of trustees under the leadership of dick parsons an ken chenaultthey have guided all aspects of the museums

development. they help to steady a shaky directorand they used their innuance to ensure a successful campaign. i would like to ask the councilto stand and be recognized. without your effort there would not be a museum. obviously othersplayed a key role in this endeavor, the first was the presidential commission co-chairedby robert wright and claude yeah brown which established a blueprint for the museum thescholarly advisory committee that was chaired by the frank hope which provided much of theguidance for the museum. i would be remiss if i didn't acknowledge the architecturalcreativity that's behind us of the free land backseat bond ‑‑ this collaboration createdby max bond benefit frd fill free lons leadership and david aguet that's you so much for howmuch you have given up. we are fortunate to

have exhibited designed by raffle apple baumand the exhibits i want to thank the amazing workers who are in the process of constructionsoon realized that this was their building and this was their history as well. and ineed to take a personal moment to thank my family so i can go home. they have lived withevery moment of this job for more than a decade. my mother is here, thank you mom. my wifemaria and my daughters katie and sair rah and my son‑in‑law and the love of my lifeharper grace. my granddaughter. recently i was asked by a journalist did we really believewe could create a museum that had been in the planning for more than a century. howcould we not believe when we could dip into the reservoir that's african american history.we believed because the enslaved dreamed a

world of freedom that once seemed impossible.we believed that because el la baker and fannie lou hamer had faith in america that did notbelieve in them. how could we not believe when hearing the words of ida b wells or malcolmor martin? we had to believe because of the audacity and the beauty of jackie robinsonstealing home. how could we not believe when hundreds of families in this country openedtheir houses entrusted us their their artifacts and stories we believed because george w bushsaid this museum must be on the national mall. thank you. and we believed because a senatorfrom chicago told us yes, we can. today is bittersweet for me when i think about thosewho began the endeavor with us. we miss john hope franklin and claudine braun and wemiss kinshasha's mom and my dad. when i look

at the museum i don't see steel, glass andconcrete, i feel the spirit, the hopes and the strengths of those who went before, andupon whose shoulders we stand. it is those memories that breathe life into this building.because when i look at this museum i realize it is a clairion call to remember, to remembernot just the well known, but also those famous only to their families whose lives in quietways shaped this nation. we remember so we can ponder the pain of slavery, segregationand second class citizenry but we also find the resilience si, faith and the hope thatthe joy that is so much apart of the african american community. we remember, to draw sustenance,inspiration and courage from the people's commitment to help america and to challengeamerica, to live up to it's stated ideals.

we remember, not out of nostalgia but outof a country’s need especially today for the contemporary clarity that comes from understandingan unvarnished history, and maybe just maybe that understanding can help america find abit of heeling and reconciliation. we remember so that all of who encounter the museum willunderstand american history through an african american lens and realize just how central african americanhistory an culture is to america's sense of self. eleven years ago we began this trek,full of trepidation and motivate bade desire to complete a journey that began a 100 yearsago. so for 11 years we have dreamed, tray prayed and toiled for this day but what keptus going was the way people stopped us ton street just to say thank you. two months agoi was standing on the corner here just before

sunrise because i want today see how the buildingwould look. there was an elderly man standing on the corner he was bent over sobbing i askif he was sick and all he could say to me was that he was so proud that he lived longenough to see the birth of this museum. so on behalf of that man i thank you i thankyou because of your support for this museum and you have given two gifts, the first isa gift to america thanks to your commitment and belief we have guaranteed that as longas this' an america this museum will educate, engage and ensure a fuller story of our countrywill be told on the national ma'am, but quite candidly given a gift to me. i am so honoredand humbled to give these people a museum. i have been having the time of my life. webelieve there's nothing more powerful than

a nation or nation steeped in history there'snothing more noble than honoring all of our ancestors by remembering. let me concludeby simply saying welcome home. ladies and gentlemen the president of theunited states. president obama: thank you. thank you. jamesbald win once wrote for awhile the tale of how we suffer and how we are delighted andhow we made triumph is never new. it always must be heard. for while the tale of how wesuffer and how we are delighted and how we may triumph is never new it always must behere. today, there's so many generations had before we gather on our national mall to tellan essential part of our american story. one that has at times been over looked. we comenot just for today but for all time president

and ms.â bush, president clinton, vice presidentand dr.â biden, chief justice roberts and secretary skorton and reverend butts and distinguishedguests, thank you thank you for your leadership in making sure this tale is told. we are herein part because of you and because of all of those american's. civil war vets and thecivil rights foot soldiers and the champions of this effort on capitol hill for more thana century kept the dream of this museum alive. it includes our leaders in congress and paulryan and nancy pelosi and includes one of my heroes john lewis who as he has so oftentook the torch from those who came before him and brought us past the finish line. itincludes the philanthropists an been factors and advisory members who have so generouslygiven not only their money but their time.

it includes the american's who offered upall the family keepsakes tucked away in grandmas attic. of course it includes a man who's visionand passion and persistence we would not be here today there lonnie bunch. what we cansee of this building the towering glass and the artistry of the metal work is surely asite to behold. beyond the majesty of the building what make this occasion so specialis the larger story it contains. below us this building reaches down 70â feet. it'sroots spreading far wider and deeper than any tree on this mall. and on it's lowestlevel after you walk past remnants of a slave ship and after you reflect on the immortaldeclaration that all men are created equal, you can see a block of stomach stone, on topof a stone i hits a historical marker weathered

by the ages that marker reads general andrewjackson and henry clay spoke from this slave block during the year 1830. i want you tothink about this consider what this artifact tells us about history about how it's toldand about what can be cast aside on a stone where day after day for years men and womenwere torn from their spouse or their child shackled and bound and bought and sold andbid like catted l on a stone worn down by the tragedy of over a thousand bare feet fora long time the only thing we considered important was the singular thing we once chose to commemorateas history with a plaque were the memorable speeches of two powerful men. and that blocki think explains why this museum is so necessary because that same object reframed put in contexttells us so much more. as american's we rightfully

passed on the tales of the giants who builtthis country, who led army into battle who wait seminal debates in the corridors of congressand too often we ignored or forgot the stories of millions upon millions of others who builtthis nation just as surely who's humble eloquence, who's callused hands and who study drive helpedto create citizens, elect industries and build the arsenals of democracy. so this nationalmuseum helps to tell a fuller an richer story of who we are. it helps us to better understandthe lives of the president but also the slave, the industrialists but also the porter, thekeeper of the status quo but also the activist seeking to over throw that status quo. theteacher or the cook alongside the state man. by knowing this other story we better understandourselves and each other. it binds us together.

it reaffirm that is all of us are america.the african‑american history is not somehow separate from our larger american story. it'snot the under side of the american story it is central to the american story and our gloryderives now not from our most obvious triumphs but how we rescued triumphant from tragedyand how we have been able to remake ourselves, again, and again an again in accordance withour highest ideas. i too am america and the greatest historian john hope franklin whohelped to get this museum started once said good history is a good foundation for a betterprecept and future. he urn stood the best history doesn't just sit behind a glass case.it helps us to understand what's outside the case. the best history helps us recognizethe mistake that is we have made and the dark

corners of the human spirit although we needto guard against. and yes, a clear eye view of history can make us uncomfortable. it willshake us out of familiarities. it is precisely because of that discomfort that we learn angrow and harness our collective power to make this nation more perfect. that's the americanstory that this museum tells. one of suffering an delight and one of fear but also of hope.of wandering in the wilderness and then seeing out on the horizon a glimmer of the promisedland. it is in this embrace of truth as best as we can know it in the celebration of theentire american experience where real patriotism lies. as president bush just said a greatnation doesn't shy from the truth, it strengthens us and it emboldens us. it should fortifyus. it is an act of patriotism to understand

where we have been. in this museum it tellit is story of so many patriot's yes african‑american's felt the cold weight of shackles and the stinginglash of field whip but we dared to run north and sing songs from harriet tubman. we buttonedup the union blues to join the fight for our freedom. we railed against injustice and fordecade upon decade a lifetime of struggle an progress and enlightenment we see etchedin frederick douglass mighty gaze. yes this museum tell it is story of people who feltthe indignity and the small and large humiliations of the whites only sign or wept at the signof ‑‑ coffin or felled to their knees on shards of stained glass outside a churchwhere four little girls died. it also tell it is story of the black and white youth sittingalongside each other straight backed so full

of dignity on those lunch counter stools.the story of six year old ruby bridges pigtails fresh pressed dress walking that gauntletto get to school. tuskegee airman soaring the skies not just to be the dictator butto reaffirm the promise of our democracy and remind us that all of us are created equal.this is the place to understand how protests and love of country don't merely coexist butinform each other. how men can proudly win the gold for their country but still insiston raise ago black glove fist. how we can wear an i can't breathe t‑shirt and stillbreathe for fallen police officers. here's the america where the razor sharp uniformof the chairman of the joint chief of staff belongs alongside the cape of a god fatherof soul. we have shown the world we can float

like butterflies and sting like bees and wecan rocket into space like mae jaimson and steal home like jackie and rock like jimiand stir the pot like richard pryor or we can be sick and tired of being sick and tiredlike fannie and still rock steady like aretha franklin. we are walt whitman told us containingmultitudes. we are large containing multitudes full of contradictions that's america. that'swhat makes us go what's what makes us extraordinary. as is true for america so is true for theafrican‑american experience. we're not a burden on america or a stain on america weare an object of pity or charity for america. we are america. that's what this museum explains,the fact that our stories have shaped every corner of our culture the struggles for freedomthat took place made our constitution a real

and living document. tested and shaped anddeepened and made more profound it's meaning for all people. the story told here doesn'tjust belong to black americans it belongs to all american's for the african‑americanexperience has been shaped just as much by europeans an asians an native american's anlatinos. we have informed each other we are poly ‑‑ astu, scripture promised thatif we lift up the oppressed that our light will rise in the darkness. and our night willbecome like the noon day the story contained in this museum makes those words prophesy.that's what this day is about. that's what this museum is about. i too an american itis a glorious story the one that's told here, it is complicated and it's messy and fullof contradictions as all great stories are.

as shakespeare is and the scripture and it'sa story that perhaps needs to be told now more than ever. a museum alone will not alleviatepoverty in every intercity or every rural or it won't eliminate gun violence or immediatelyensure that justice is always color blind. it won't wipe away every instance of discriminationin a job interview or a sentencing hearing or folks trying to rent an apartment. thosethings are up to us the decisions an choices we make, it requires speaking out and organizingand voting and until our values are fully reflected in our laws and our policies andour communities. what this museum does show us is that even in the face of oppression.even in the face of unimaginable difficulty america has moved forward. so this museumprovides context for the debates of our times,

it illuminates them and gives us some senseof how they evolved and perhaps keeps them in proportion. perhaps they can have a whitevisitor understand the pain and anger of demonstrators in places like ferguson and charlotte. itcan also help black visitors appreciate the fact that not only is this younger generationcarrying on traditions of the past but within the white communities across the nation wesee the sincerity of law enforcement officers and officials who in fits an starts are strugglingto understand. they are trying to do the right thing. it reminds us that routine discriminationand jim crow aren't ancient history. it's just a black eye of history. it wasjust yesterday and so we should not be surprised that not all the heeling is done. we shouldn'tdespair that it's not all solved. knowing

the largest story should instead remind usjust how remarkable the changes that have taken place truly are just in my lifetime.and thereby inspire us to further progress. so hopefully this museum can help us talkto each other. more importantly listen to each other. most importantly see each other.black and white and latino and native american and asian american see how our story are boundtogether. they are bound together with women in america. workers in america and entrepreneursin america and lgbt americans for young people who then lived through the strugglesrepresented here i hope you draw strength from the changes that have taken place. comehere and see the power of your own agency and see how young john lewis was. (laughter)these were children who transformed a nation

in a blink of an eye and young people comehere and see your ability to make your mark. the very fact of this day does not prove america'sperfect. but it does validate ideas of our founding that country born of change an thiscountry born of revolution this country of we the people this country canget better. that's why we celebrate. mindful that our work is not yet done, mindful thatwe are but on a weigh station on this common journey toward freedom and how glorious thatit is that we ‑‑ on some of our nations hollowed ground. the same place where liveswere once traded but where all colors and creeds once marched. how joyful this storyis that takes ‑‑ washington who made it real and alongside lincoln who saved our union,the gi's who defended it alongside the new

monument to a king gazing outward summoningus toward that mountain top how righteous it is that we tell this story here. for almosteight years i have been blessed with the extraordinary honor of serving you in this office. timeand again time again often with michelle and our daughters an theywill tell you that it is an incredible sight. you pass right across the washington monumentand it feels like you can reach out and touch it and then in the night if you turn the otherway you don't just see the lincoln memorial old abe is lit up and you can see him, hisspirit glowing from that building. we don't have many trips left but over the yearsi have always been comforted that as i watch this museum rise from this earthinto this remarkable tribute. because i know

that years from now like all of you michelleand i will be able to come here to this museum and not just bring our kids but hopefullyour grandkids and i imagine holding a little hand of somebody and tell them the storiesthat are enshrined here and in the years that folllow they will be able to do the same and thenwe will go to the lincoln memorial an we will take a view at the top of the washington monumentand together we will learn about ourselves as americans. our sufferings and our delights and our trials.we will walk away better for it. better because we, better grasp the truth. we will walk awaythat much more in love with this country. the only place on earth where this story couldhave unfolded. it is a monument no less than the others on this mall to the deep and abidinglove for this country and the ideals upon

which it was founded. for we too are america,so enough talk president bush was timing me. (laughter). he had the over under at 25 letus now open this museum to the world. today we have with us a family that reflects thearc of our progress the bonner family four generations and all. starting with gorgeousseven year old christine and going up to gorgeous 99 year old ruth. now, ruth's father elijahodom was born in servitude in mississippi he was born a slave. as a young boy he ranto his freedom. he lived through reconstruction and he lived through jim crow. he want ontofarm and graduate from medical school and gave life to the beautiful family that wesee today with a spirit reflected in beautiful christine. free and equal under the laws ofher country and in the eyes of god so in a

brief moment their family will join us inringing a bell from the first baptist church in virginia one of the oldest black churchesin america founded under a grove of trees in 1776 and the sound of this bell will beechoed by others in houses of worship in town squares all across this country. when theecho of the ringing of bell that is signaled emancipation more than a century and a halfago. the sound and the anthem of american freedom. god bless you. god bless the unitedstates of america. ⶠⶠtill earth and heaven ring, ring with the harmonies of liberty.let our rejoiceing rise, high as the listening skies let it resoundloud as the rolling sea. god of our weary years god of our silent tears thou who has broughtus thus far on the way. thou who has by thy might led us

into the light keep us forever in the pathwe pray. lest our feet stray from the places our god where we met thee lest our heartsdrunk with the wine of the world we forget thee. shadowed beneath thigh hand may we foreverstand true to our god, true to our native land.please join in and sing. ⶠⶠlift every voice and sing till earth and heaven ringring with har monoanies of liberty, let our rejoicing rise high as the listening skieslet it resound loud as the rolling sea sing a song full of the faith that the dark pasthas taught us, sing a song full of the hope that the precept has brought us, faceing therising sun of our new day begin let us march on till victory is wonthis concludes the dedication ceremonies of

the national museum of african americanhistory and culture please stay in your seats our staff will notify you when it's time foryour group to approach the museum and enter. thank you.