DuSable Museum Honors Martin Luther King

The DuSable Museum, located at 740 East 56^th Place in Chicago's Washington Park, are presenting "AND FREEDOM FOR ALL: Martin Luther King Jr. and the Civil Rights Movement" exhibition. This exhibit includes African American paintings and statues on the main floor by the lobby and downstairs with various images, real letters, and paraphernalia of other Civil Rights leaders, as well as Martin Luther King Jr.

Washington Park was packed with cars when I visited the DuSable Museum for Martin Luther King Day on January 21, 2008. The events at various times of the day include spoken word (Ryspodii "Sporty" King and other Chicago premiere poets), movies ("4 Little Girls," "The Boy King," "The Proud Family-I Had a Dream," "Our Friend Martin," "Ruby Bridges," "Mighty Times: The Children's March), music/musicals (gospel choir Joshua's Troop, "Music from the Civil Rights Era," Marcus Gentry performing "Let's Meet Dr. King"), dance performance (Alyo Children's Dance Theater), and tent performances (a hand puppet performance of the life and history of Dr. King and a discussion with Bernard Kinsey). The brochures indicate the level of intensity and what grade levels each program allows-some are appropriate for all ages while others are for sixth grade and up. There is a craft workshop for $4 from 10 am to 4 pm and a lunch counter café hosted by Dominick's grocery store from 9 am to 5 pm.

In addition to the MLK exhibits, permanent exhibitions include Thomas Miller mosaic murals, 2,000 plus traditional and contemporary African artifacts for Africa Speaks, sculptures such as Frederick Douglass, W.E.B. DuBois, and Mary McLeod Bethune in The Freedom Now Mural, a recreation of Harold Washington's office, and a massive collection of other paintings, drawings, and sculptures collected in the DuSable Museum's 45-year history.

I enjoyed seeing all the different items in the museum, but my favorite part of the visit was seeing the powerful "4 Little Girls" movie about four children who were killed when a former Ku Klux Klan member bombed their church. Family members, friends, and church members discussed how the bombing affected them and those surrounding them. The most memorable part of the movie was about one young lady who had to have special work done on her head for her burial because there was some granite lodged into her skull, but it was fixed by her hair. It was also one of the other four girl's birthday.

If visitors fill out a survey about the exhibit, they'll get a free Willie Lynch poster and brochures called "Recommended Reading on the Theme of Martin Luther King, Jr., and African-American History" for various age levels. Although January 15, Dr. Martin Luther King's birthday, has passed and January 21, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, has passed, I'd recommend going to this museum any day of the year if you are interested in learning more about African American history. The Martin Luther King Jr., exhibit will end on Sunday, June 1, 2008. If you are in the Chicago area, the museum can easily be reached by the #3, #4, and #55 buses. Although parking is available, it is much more likely on big days such as MLK Day, that drivers will park alongside Washington Park. The following are not allowed in the museum: animals, backpacks or oversized bags, outside food or beverages, lasers, cameras of any sort, running or unruly behavior, smoking, and umbrellas. Note: If it's raining, they do have a coat check in the lobby area for you to check in your personal belongings.

My only complaint was that the press release for the exhibit says that the admissions price is $3 for adults, $2 for students and senior citizens, $1 for children ages 6 through 12, and children under the age of 6 are for free. Sundays are also said to be free courtesy of Bank of America. The visitation page also says the same prices. However, when I arrived, the price of admission was $8 for adults. I left a voicemail message for the contact person on the press release (Raymond Ward at 773-947-0600 ext 228), but I did not get a response. I also talked with an operator who lectured me on the DuSable Museum being a nonprofit organization and how they sent the correct information to whomever handles the Website. The operator stated that regardless of what the Website said, it's $8. Whether nonprofit or for profit, any company should uphold what their Website says, especially if they're passing out material to join the "Get Connected" mailing list. Why check a Website if the company does not verify that the information is correct? I'd strongly suggest calling to verify admission prices before showing up at the door for a surprise amount.

Other than that, this is a superb place to visit, and the souvenir shop has economical African and African American literature, postcards, jewelry, statues, bookmarks, keychains, and other goodies to remember your time there and an endless amount of untold American history.