Jim Crow laws, norms, and etiquette, were themselves negative. They represented a
way of life that divided America into two societies: one, White, and advantaged; the
other, Black, disadvantaged and despised. The images of Blacks, made by Whites, during
the Jim Crow period were, in the main, negative. They had to be. The images were used
to reflect and shape the anti-Black attitudes of the period.
There were positive images of Blacks produced in the past; however, the dominant images
of Blacks were negative. Also, many of the positive images were produced by Blacks.
The museum attempts to show how racist images permeated America. Racist images were
produced by major American companies, including, Disney, Milton Bradley, Life, and
Coca-Cola. For most of America's history, positive (or even non-negative) images of
Blacks were not normative. Black women were portrayed as Mammies or Nellies; Black
men were depicted as Sambos, Coons, or Toms. The museum does include a display case
that shows contemporary positive images of African Americans.
Some Whites who visit the museum feel guilty about the ways that Blacks were treated
in the past. This is not the goal of the museum. The major goal of the museum is to
deconstruct the racial stereotypes that both reflected and shaped attitudes about
Black Americans. This is sometimes painful. We try to create an environment where
learning will occur. Before entering the Museum participants master academic material
regarding race relations; after the Museum experience they are afforded opportunities
to process what they saw. Our goal is to move beyond emotions (guilt and anger) to
a deeper understanding of American race relations. We have been successful in most
instances.