In an effort to rebuild relationships with local Black community members, college and museum officials in Missouri have vowed to publicly exalt the state’s rich Black history and confront its slavery past.
After months of dialogue with African American groups, officials of the renowned Mark Twain Boyhood Home and Museum recently unveiled a new exhibit — “Stories of Our Lives: African-Americans in Hannibal” — which explores the Black roots of the city of Hannibal.
Hannibal is the famous childhood home of Mark Twain, the writer of American
classics such as The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Adventures of Huckleberry
Finn. However, since their publication, these books have been so controversial that they have been banned from many reading lists and classrooms across the country because of what some describe as racially charged language.
Nevertheless, in recent years some have criticized Hannibal and Missouri state officials for turning a blind eye to the region’s Black ancestors who are credited with impacting Twain’s writings and had a critical hand in the development of the Mississippi River town. But officials say that the new museum addition, which features 20th-century artifacts, photos and memorabilia, has helped enhance honest dialogue surrounding the issues of racism, injustice and slavery.
“I think it (the exhibit) has been a good first start to beginning the dialogue (with the community),” says Dr. Regina Faden, the museum’s executive director who notes that the exhibit has helped improve relationships among the city’s 17,000 residents. “I think it makes people feel comfortable to come into an institution where they didn’t feel welcomed or recognized before.”
