Travelers Going Back in Time to Probe America's Deep Scar

[Rose Siding]

Local and state tourism agencies are spending more and more to market heritage tourism. They are particularly targeting African Americans, who increasingly have the resources to devote to such pursuits.
.....
In Selma, Ala., visitors to the Slavery and Civil War Museum can spend 90 minutes in the role of a slave — kidnapped, frightened, screamed at and degraded. As museum director Afriye We-Kandodis leads the experience, she abandons her own delicate, angelic voice and adopts one of a male overseer — twice her size and chillingly cruel.

"We do use the language that was used back then," she said. "The 'n-word' is used quite a lot. Men are called 'boys,' and women are called 'wenches.' "

Families are separated; individuals are inspected like cargo, not treated as human beings. We-Kandodis calls the visitors "godless" and "worthless" and remains unapologetic even when they cry.....

Offering such a personal view of slavery has both raised the museum's profile and improved its finances, she said. This fall, she plans to extend the role-playing to an all-day event, including an afternoon of labor, such as yardwork or house-painting.

So far, she said, she has taken 147 groups of about 30 people — black and white, adults and children — through the slavery experience.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-slavery15aug15,0,6933344.story?page=2&track=tottext

[Selatius]

1. All Neo-Confederates should be forced to go to this museum

And be made to walk a mile in the shoes of the oppressed.

[Warpy]

2. I did the tour of the slave auction house in Charleston

when I was about ten. It was chilling even then. The experience stuck with me.

The tour guide was low key, but the old documents spoke about the arrogance of the masters and the desperation of the slaves. Of particular interest was how some who had been in the system for a period of time had their personalities described: docile, fractious, etc. Intelligence was not seen as an asset.

It was one of the ugly places my mother insisted I go that I have thanked her for ever since.