Thread by @LWieck

Psyched for this panel, and will thread together my tweets in this thread. #BMM #AASLH2020

Felicia Bell: Adapt and Improvise

So true in this moment.

#AASLH2020

Museums cannot be community centers, but they can be at the center of their community. - Felicia Bell referring to recent words by @SmithsonianSec. #AASLH2020

Melanie Adams: African American museums and other comm based museums (e.g. Oakland Museum) have been doing this kind of work for a long time. #BMM #AASLH2020

Felicia Bell: asking about what responsibilities Black museums should and shouldn't assume in this current environment where racialized systems are being laid bare #aaslh2020

Felicia Bell - program Real Talk where community & speakers would have conversations about real issues: juvenile sentencing, school-to-prison pipeline, human trafficking, etc. This used museum's convening power to address critical issues and have dialogue.
#AASLH2020

Felicia Bell - the museum isn't disneyworld and there's no obligation to make it the happiest place on earth; people should be ready to engage and learn. We don't have to tiptoe and just tell comfortable stories!

!!!!!

#AASLH2020

Felicia Bell: saying MLK Jr. was non-violent and Rosa Parks was tired makes our visitors comfortable. Parks wasn't old, she wasn't tired, she was making a choice to be militant. Stop telling these narratives. #AASLH2020

Ashley Jordan - giving to Black museums helps make change, enables them to tackle key issues in their education programs.

#AASLH2020

Joy Kinard: essential to support and empower artists to create in this time to reflect on current events #AASLH2020

Speakers keep emphasizing they've been doing this work for a long time. This isn't something new. #AASLH2020

.@melanieadams3 Black Museums have ALWAYS worked to be RELEVANT. Other museums are trying to find this relevance and reflection on race now.

(my apologies - this is clumsily worded and has lost the power of the panelists' voices)

#AASLH2020

This panel is a powerhouse - feeling honored and privileged to be learning from these amazing women's voices. If you missed this panel, be SURE to catch the recording.

#AASLH2020

Felicia Bell talking about great cross-over work training police officers in community history, having them visit the museum as part of their training, going out and walking in neighborhoods. #AASLH2020

Felicia Bell: hammering home the consequences of mainstream museums who are showing up in solidarity to actually show up and do the work. Getting them to take the next step so that this isn't just temporary, because Black Museums DO THIS WORK EVERYDAY #AASLH2020

Felicia Bell: Museums need to engage in self-reflection, offer safe space for reflection and addressing shortcomings; importance of being transparent about your shortcomings. #AASLH2020

Felicia Bell: We have to do this work intentionally, create action plans. Don't just hire minority staff to check a box. Quotes @ArianaCurtis413 to argue that these museums needs to be doing this work even when BIPOC are out of sight.

#AASLH2020

Joy Kinard: We need to have more collaboration and have a blend of conversations, being inclusive in our conversations. #AASLH2020

.@Melanieadams3 - who are you asking to write these strategic plans and diversity statements? Can you back up these statements? If you're not doing this work, how could you possibly back it up?

Don't just "thoughts and prayers" it but commit to action!

#AASLH2020

keep seeing @lindsey pop up in the chat, and it keeps making me jump... #notme lol

When the panelists are told they have to wrap up and everyone is sad that this session has to end. #AASLH2020

Ashley Jordan: did I do everything in my power to tell these stories and bear witness? #AASLH2020

You might not be able to see me, but I've been nodding along with this panel like a bobblehead. #AASLH2020

A note from Ashley Jordan from the chat: "if your state has “state history day” that was a good way for your site to spread the word about AfAm Hist" #AASLH2020

Ending the session by invoking #BlackGirlMagic and it WAS. A huge thank you to all of these panelists! #AASLH2020