Whitney Plantation museum confronts painful history of slavery

The first museum in America dedicated entirely to slavery opened a few months ago in Wallace, Louisiana. Michelle Miller visits the museum and found a surprising history, not only about the plantation, but her own family.

[mistymrning]

In Germany we have dozens and dozens of museums about the Holocaust and WWII. I am actually quite shocked that the museum in this video was the FIRST museum on slavery in the United States.... wow. Really goes to show how much America has tried to run away from and ignore that part of history.

[patrickfarrell]

Slavery ended 153 years ago..my grandfather turned 100. None of this is old

[calebmissions]

I cried when I visited the Whitney Plantation. I was so touched that I was speechless. You can feel the souls of the children in the church.

[ivanacastaneda]

When she said “but I already knew that, I’ve married her son” I didn’t expect that

[Knaighthugh]

I like John Cummings, I respect his vision, I respect his desire. A man of wealth, and a man of intelligence. Not blinded by ignorance. Thank you John.

[sohappy]

My respect to this man for being open and honest. How sad that many cannot deal with the truth.

[Neeshpeesh]

This is how you use your Lord knows many cant afford to do this. This is incredible!

[tonibauer]

I am a 73 year old white southern woman who is beyond glad to see this. So often, on these plantation tours, the lives, deaths, and hard, hard work of the slaves is minimized and barely mentioned. That is so wrong, dishonest, and disrespectful, so I am thankful to this man for his hard work, honesty, and devotion to the truth.

[jlewis]

Hats off to this gentleman. He’s a real one!

[leroywilliams]

Myself and wife toured the plantation 6/20/19 and was overwhelmed, we loved it and insist that each of our family members visit. For fact, that as far one can see behind themselves is as far they can see forward... Thank you Mr. Cummings for your great work.

[IamPhilomena]

I took my mom and many of my family during Covid-19. We cried, we prayed, we saw family names from HAITI that my mom recognized. We are not that far removed. Everything on that plantation looked like the home that my grandmothers grew up in on the Island of Hispanola. The oven, the tools, how the homes are built, EVERYTHING was exactly as I see back home.

Seeing your family's name on the wall of slaves, then reading the story is something that cannot be explained. Thank goodness the Whitney Plantation was restored and I'm glad I was able to take my mom to see it.

[carolb.]

Thank you Mr. Cummings for investing in our history, and bringing the truth to light. I appreciate you.

[TheKing-bkmf]

I'm biracial and half my family owned slaves and half my family was slaves. the truth is fucked up and the fact that he wants to tell the truth about him feeling bad about slavery shows how this world is changing in a positive way. Make the future better by building off the past

[naosay]

In my 12 years living in the USA, going from elementary school and now in college, let me just say teachers and professors really do a horrible job teaching the history of slavery, this is why we need African American history course in every school starting with middle school.

[CharlesHawleyConnecticut]

This is so painful, but a true part of history. Let's recognize it and remember.

[melaniec.]

In no way is he disrespecting slavery's history

[original]

I'm 59 years old, and i cried like a baby near the end of this video....please remember that this took place a little over 100 years ago....Let us not go back.

[cotton]

My great grandmother was born in 1893 she lived until I was 10. So I've heard So many stories my grandmother is 98 now

[GodisLovetoo]

He right! We aren’t that far removed.... Just a little better at covering it up!

[amchomemaker]

I'm a civil war reenactor for museums. Its truly sad what african Americans went through. Knowledge is power without museums history is lost