culture Book ver final 5 - Flipbook - Page 102
How Does Culture Fit Into Our Society?
By Harold Young
Executive Director, Tubman Museum
If you ask the average person, you randomly encounter, what culture is, they
might tell you about their ethnic origin, traditions (religious or otherwise), or
their families/ancestors’ specific geographic locations. But to think about
culture within our society and how history fits into it? This is a topic worth
exploring in detail from various points of view, according to Jeff Bruce, curator
at the Tubman Museum.
A quick internet search will bring up various meanings of the word ‘culture’:
civilization, society, way of life, lifestyle, customs, traditions, heritage, habits,
ways, values.
“For me, history is the first thing I think about when I think about culture,” says Bruce. “Remembering
the past and learning from it allows us to shape our own
society.”
The Tubman Museum has been influential in highlighting history
and its role today. The mission is to educate people about the
“culture” of African Americans. Supporting creative activities,
highlighting artistic expression from visionary artists, and
hosting numerous events celebrating historic figures and
present-day community leaders making a difference, is a daily
occurrence.
“Many think that the museum serves only African Americans or
Black people from around the world,” says Harold Young,
executive director of the Tubman Museum. “But this museum is
for everyone: it’s about learning history, and our history is part
of everyone else’s history. Many people forget that.”
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