Walking into the Global Village Museum, I thought I was just visiting another museum. I was definitely wrong.
When I walked into each exhibit, I found myself staring at real plantation shackles, an authentic noose and freedom quilts that represented hope for enslaved people searching for freedom.
For a moment, everything around me became quiet.
Reading about these things in a textbook had never affected me the way seeing them in person did. It was overwhelming to realize that these weren’t stories made up for a lesson. They were real pieces of history that carried so much pain, strength, and the resilience of people who lived through it.
Every artifact made me stop and think about the lives behind it, and I left the museum with a deeper understanding of why preserving history matters.
A moment that stayed with me the most is when our guide, Global Village Executive Director Mary Clark said, “If we don’t know our history, we’re bound to repeat it.”
“… history is really about people — their struggles, sacrifices, resilience and the lives they fought to build.”
Those words stuck with me because before leaving the museum I thought history was about remembering the important events and the important dates. But after hearing the stories about the artifacts, I realized history is really about people — their struggles, sacrifices, resilience and the lives they fought to build.
Looking at those exhibits made me think about how easily stories can be forgotten if no one is willing to tell them. It also made me realize how important museums are because they preserve the truth, even when it’s uncomfortable.
As someone who wants to use my voice to make a difference, I left understanding that storytelling isn’t just about sharing information. It’s about helping people connect, understand and remember.
The Global Village Museum didn’t just teach me about the past, it challenged me to think about the responsibility we all have to protect history so future generations can learn from it, too.
Tammy Woodley is a student at KIPP Legacy High School and a member of the JAWS media fellowship.
JAWS is an initiative of the Indianapolis Recorder in partnership with the Edna Martin Christian Center, KIPP Legacy High School and the Mind Trust.
