Fire Escapes and Contemplation
Recently my daughter and I traveled to NYC. Part of our trip was a tour into Harlem to see landmarks and attend a church service. I don't know what I expected from this tour. I am quite sure it wasn't what I expected. It left me feeling confused and muddled and I am still processing the experience. The tour was obviously designed to be a feel good tour for visitors from all different countries and walks of life. Because of this it seemed to be a narration of omission and careful word choice. There was so much that struck me. First of all, humorous stories of Martin Luther King Jr. were shared while there was no mention of Malcom X. The guide used phrases like, "we want you to feel safe" when referring to places where we could disembark. We stopped at the Apollo Theater as white tourists flocked to take pictures with a young black woman who was near the site, possibly assuming she was their very own Harlem souvenir. The guide ...