DETROIT (MICH.) – Lena stood at the exhibit slightly longer than the others. Her eyes were glazed with sadness as she peered through the exhibit window and into the eyes of the mannequin, which hung by its neck on a tree. “This doesn’t feel right,” her voice quivered. “They shouldn’t treat us like this. In reality, we’re all the same (people.)

Lena was one of over a dozen Explorers who visited the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History in Detroit, Michigan. Detroit historian Jamon Jordan met the students to provide them with a trip through African American history that began millions of years before they were born. Jordan started the tour by having students stand on the name of one of the dozens of African Americans honored on the nameplates in the museum’s rotunda. Students were captivated by how many countries can fit into the continent of Africa and the costumes featured in the special exhibit, which displayed iconic costumes by Ruth Carter, the first African American to earn an Oscar for Costume Design.

Explorers experienced sadness as they walked through the belly of a slave ship replica and learned how African men, women, and children were packed naked onto wooden slabs. They smiled at the black-and-white movies featuring African American actors of the early movie era. And they laughed at the gigantic boom box near costumes made famous by Carter in Spike Lee’s film Do the Right Thing.

The Explorers learned the history behind Charles H. Wright and his dedication to sharing African American history with those in Detroit and beyond. Explorers walked through historic moments of African American history for more than two hours. Each left realized the importance of knowing their history.

Cianna, a 10th-grade Explorer, summed up the importance of history from the African American perspective. “We should know more. We don’t learn this in school.”

Stay tuned for the Explorers’ stories on the Charles H. Wright Museum in our Spring edition of Girls Can!