I’m continuing to make good on my new year’s resolution of visiting more museums this year. Today’s entry: The Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Library!
Now you might be thinking, “Hey, that’s not a museum, you stupid idiot! That’s a library!” You’re harsh, but technically correct. But did you know that the MLK library contains several exhibits? I did not, at least not until a friend pointed it out to me when we were brainstorming what to visit. I was also eager to visit because I used to work just a couple blocks away, but somehow never managed to go inside. So away we went!
First up: this library has an awesome slide for the kiddos! It’s built into the stairwell. That’s not remotely important or related to the exhibits I’m about to review, but it was a pleasant surprise in a building that I expected to be all-business.
Next up: We didn’t really know where to go or what to expect when we arrived, beyond briefly glanced at this write-up on the library’s website:
https://www.dclibrary.org/plan-visit/martin-luther-king-jr-memorial-library/arts-exhibits
There was someone taking up the info desk’s time and attention, and we found a map that said exhibits were on the 4th floor, so we blindly headed upstairs. As I look back over the website now, I’m realizing we completely missed one of the exhibitions in which I’d had the most interest. Looks like the We Who Believe in Freedom: Black Feminist DC exhibit was on the 1st floor, and we had no idea. Doh!
Instead we saw Up From the People, which was (thankfully) also one I’d wanted to see. The exhibit is all about protest in DC, and is spread over two separate areas on the 4th floor. Not realizing which exhibits were located where, we wandered to the right first. In retrospect, I wish I’d started on the left, which contained a section titled A Revolution of Values which, according to the website, “addresses Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s message and his connection to the District and local activism.” This half of the exhibit was a bit broader and focused on protests in general. At least, I think it did. But the problem was, by the time I got to this half of the exhibit, I’d already hit my Museum Fatigue, and I admit I didn’t take in anywhere near as much information as I would have lived. My co-visitors, Kaytlin and Mara, had the same issue. As we were leaving I asked for their general reviews, and Kaytlin said she would want to come back to take a closer look at the material she’d kinda glossed over (aka, the stuff we did at the end.)
Between the fact that I was partially zonked by that point, and the fact that this visit was 2 weeks ago (I’ve had a busy couple weeks, hence the delayed post), I admit I remember little from the second half. There was some interesting information about protests threw drew visitors to DC, including some bigger protest where peole basically built a village on the mall. This was around the time my parents started living in DC, and I wondered whether the displays I was reading were about the protests my mom remembers from that time. The main story of hers that I remember is that one time my mom decided to drive her green VW Karmann Ghia to visit Arlington National Cemetery, and a group of protestors swarmed her car, collectively picked it up, turned it around, and told her to drive away (which she promptly did.) Back to the exhibit: man I wish I could remember more about it. I do recall that there was a homeless person sleeping on a bench in the middle of it, right next to displays about living conditions hurting the poor. So that was pretty on-the-nose.
Thankfully (for the purpose of this review, anyway), I remember the first section of the exhibit much better! The east gallery contained an exhibit named D.C. Represented, which, “covers local politics and history through displays on Mayor Marion Barry, D.C. home rule, and the cultural impact of go-go and punk music.” In other words, this section was much more DC-centric, with tight displays focused on very specific issues. The first display focused on home rule, which has been a point of protest in DC basically since the city’s inception. I almost wish this part had been even more thorough. The tail end of this display contained the history of the Northeast freeway, which was planned to go through the middle of the city but, thankfully, was stopped by local protests. I’ve read a lot, both privately and at my job, about cities who basically go out of their way to make sure that its poorest citizens have a worse standard of living than its richer citizens (think of where toxic dumps and chemical plants tend to be located), and razing people’s homes for the sake of a freeway sure as hell is a solid example. I particularly liked a display labeled, “Would your house be spared?” that showed maps of the original plans so that people can find themselves. The highway protests were before my lifetime, but not by much, so it was interesting to read displays about something that I’ve heard people talk about.
The next display was entirely about Marion Barry. This was probably the biggest, most thorough display in the entire library. I mean, technically I guess they were all the same size, but dang this one felt out of synch. Maybe it’s because, given my age and when I was reading which headlines, I didn’t know much about him beforehand except that he’d been arrested for doing a bunch of coke. As a child big into the drugs-are-bad messaging of the early 90’s, at the time I saw that as a pretty big no-no that spoke to his character. So, to be fair, I did actually learn a ton from this exhibit. I didn’t know about his early career as an activist, about the programs he set up to help kids in the summer, etc. I also somehow hadn’t realized that he returned to service on the city council after his jail time (either I was checked-out news-wise at the time, or I’ve just forgotten. Unsure which.) So this section was educational. But on the other hand, is seemed totally out of place, at least in terms of the importance placed on it. A few panels, yeah, sure, no problem. But the same attention as the entire home-rule display?! Huh? Did his family donate the money for the exhibit or something? Who knows.
The next two section were super fun: punk and go-go!!! I’m a casual punk fan, and punk has only existed as a genre about as long as I have as a person, so it was very neat reading displays about venues I’ve attended and people who I might have known. I mean… I didn’t actually know any of these people. I’m a nerd from Virginia, not some punk radio protestor. But I definitely scanned every concert photo for familiar faces! I was so interesting to learn about the specifics of the DC punk scene, and how it was central in protesting issues of the day. This is the kinda niche issue I was hoping to learn about when I started this museum quest! Where the heck else are you going to learn about DC punk music in an academic setting?
But I’m saving the best for last: Go-go! For any non-local reader who doesn’t know, go-go is basically the official music of DC. Now, I think people outside this region may have a skewed idea of what DC is like. People watch West Wing and House of Cards and think that everyone who lives here is a political junkie working on The Hill and going to swanky cocktail bars in the business-casual attire before retiring to their Georgetown condo. But DC is a real freakin’ city, with its own thriving culture. DC’s got half-smokes, mumbo sauce, hand dancing, and yes, go-go music! Now, I grew up outside the city in Fairfax County, Virginia, so despite my pride in my metro area, I’m not going to pretend to be an actual DC native. I’ve heard go-go music and am generally familiar with it, but didn’t know much about it beyond that it’s unique to DC, and seems to be pretty energetic. This exhibit was a great introduction! If anything, I wish it had had more! They could have taken a few panels from Marion Barry. I learned about what go-go music actually is, and how it’s grown over time. I spent the next several days blasting go-go in my car. I was inspired to research more on my own, which is the mark of a good museum visit, I think!
The go-go display also came with some unplanned interactivity. There was a guy sitting in the corner next to the display (which was already playing a video featuring go-go music) playing his own go-go music on a portable speaker. Eric (as I later learned was his name) asked me whether I am a fan of go-go music, or if I’m only just now learning about it. I explained that I was in the middle; I already know of it but didn’t really listen to it or know much. After Eric learned that I’m not actually from DC-proper, he asked why I was bothering to visit a DC library, and I said I was there for the exhibits. He then informed me that he is part of “the MLK experience,” and he films YouTube videos there. Naively, I asked him if he works for the library, and if his videos are about the library and/or go-go. Nope, nope and nope. I asked what his videos were about then, and he told me his handle and we pulled it up. Turns out Eric does prison-style workout videos, meaning workouts that can be done in any location (including a library, apparently!) He asked me to subscribe (which I did!), and he asked me to tell 10 other people to subscribe as well. I told him I would. I’m not a lair, and I think that maybe about 10 people might ever click on this post? So here’s my promise fulfilment for Eric: everyone go watch this dude’s videos!
https://www.youtube.com/@EL-ERIC
If you’re wondering why I’m bothering to share this part of the story and spread this guy’s videos when it has nothing to do with the actual museum review, it’s because Eric told me that I look like I already work out a lot, which means a lot coming from a big dude who lifts other big(ish) dudes (https://youtu.be/B2ANapOchj0?si=FVCNbP7zOvRMukhR.) Flattery will get you everywhere, sir!
There was one more sad little half-empty display in this section with a “section under construction” sign. I’m not sure what it was about overall, but I’m guessing more DC-specific culture stuff? I’m basing this on the phrase “hand dancing” appearing on a caption for a non-present item. It’s a bummer to have not seen this display, but on the other hand, I clearly didn’t retain even the stuff I did see, so maybe not that big a loss.
Bottom line, this was a pretty great exhibit, and well worth the visit! Sure, the top floor of a local library isn’t quite as flashy and grandiose as the Smithsonian galleries that surround it, but I learned a lot, and the displays were pretty solid. Like my friend Kaytlin, I would totally come back and take a look at the other materials (plus review the sections that I’ve already forgotten). Is it worth visiting DC from another region to see this? Naw, just read a book. Is it worth stopping in if you’re in the area anyway for a Caps game or something? Oh yeah, definitely! Is it worth metroing in from Virginia to spend the afternoon with a couple friends nerding out (and stopping by Cuba Libre for brunch)? 100%
Helga without the H 