We’ll never be able to truly understand the horrors our ancestors went through during chattel slavery in America, but one white woman is now going viral after an immersive experience at a local African American history museum brought out unbelievable emotions.
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Roots 101 African American Museum is a nonprofit organization based in Kentucky. During a recent demonstration, the museum’s founder Lamont Collins spoke to a group of visitors about the plight of enslaved Africans, who were forcefully brought tot he U.S. In order for guests to get the full experience, there’s a segment where Collins called up folks one by one and placed shackles on them just as enslaved Africans endured.
“Welcome to America,” Collins told one white lady before dramatically dropping the shackles on her wrists. Clearly taken aback by the powerful gesture, the white woman immediately became emotional, according to the video. That’s when Collins said, “Tell me what you’re thinking.”
The interaction between the Black founder and the white woman was recorded and shared to the Roots 101 Instagram. But while you might expect this to be the end of the video, the woman began telling Collins and others in the room what that moment truly meant to her.
“I’ve always been interested in history and the history of Black people,” the woman began. She went on to explain that she’s taken multiple classes to learn more about Black history, read “so many books” and is now a member of a predominately Black church in the state. Being at the Roots 101 museum gave the older woman a glimpse inside the real struggle for Black people in America, and she said it was a special opportunity.
“I wouldn’t [want to] be anywhere else,” the woman finished adding with tears in her eyes. Collins eventually took off the shackles, preparing for the next visitor to step up to experience the same shackling moment. That’s where the video ends, but the clip quickly went viral, gaining over 11 million views on X… And of course, Black folks had some seriously hilarious thoughts.
@BlindLivin said it’s about time white people like the woman in the video get a taste of what Black folks have been subjected to for centuries. He wrote, “YES!!!! Feel thy sh*t!!! We had 400+ years!!
Other folks weren’t impressed by the woman’s tears. “The fact that ppl have to do this instead of maintaining basic sympathy skills,” @omarreeyuh tweeted.
“This is speaking volumes,” @thebigkaidaaaa simply said on X. There’s no word on if the unidentified woman knows she’s now a viral sensation yet, but clearly Roots 101 is doing something right!
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