YSEALI PFP Day 2: Reflections on History

21 April 2019

Started the day early with a chilling morning jog with my room-mate, An from Vietnam. The streets of Washington DC made great running routes, since the streets were designed in a grid manner and therefore navigable. East-West streets were named in letters; while North-South streets were named in numbers. 

With An, an official of the Ministry of Health, Vietnam, who deals with international partnership

So DuPont Circle was named after Rear Admiral Samuel Francis Du Pont, who played a key role in the Civil War era. During our runs, we oriented our routes with reference to the statue at DuPont Circle.

After breakfast, Jocelyn and I took the time to visit the Rock Creek Park. En route, we chanced upon a Sunday Market.

Stallholders set up their goods beside their trucks

Spring is in the air

Cherry Blossom?

The stream that flows into the Potoamac River

Protest Signages outside Sudan Embassy

First formal agenda for the day - Introduction and Schedule Overview

Aikeo, Director of Disability Service Centre in Laos, introducing himself

After our ACYPL Programme folks briefed us on the schedule for the orientation week (21 to 25 April), we headed for the National Museum of African American History and Culture. The museum is a Smithsonian Institution.

 

"Watching Oprah" - a special exhibition gallery 

Oprah Winfrey's first endorsement of a Presidential Candidate was Barack Obama

Oprah Winfrey's Desk

Oprah Winfrey was bestowed the Presidential Medal of Freedom

The History Galleries were totally insightful and emotive. The Journey Toward Freedom gallery showcased the struggles by the African American community from the 15th to 21st centuries. 

The Paradox of Liberty

While Thomas Jefferson drafted the Declaration of Independence that stated "all men are created equal", he owned 609 slaves. In fact, 12 out of the first 18 Presidents had slaves. Enslaved African Americans were the ones who built the US Capitol and the White House, institutions that guarded the people's freedom.

  

Jim Crow Laws and segregation, even for water fountains

Dismembered bodies of slaves were displayed to deter rebellion

"Building communities together, African Americans also developed the skills in oratory, organisation, and leadership that ultimately served them so well in demanding their rights as citizens"

Segregation in public transportation:

Oath of Enlistment

African American Olympians

Ben Carson, former Republican Presidential Candidate

Jocelyn and I saved some time from lunch and headed to the National Gallery of Art.

"What 'cha lookin' at?"

A painting of the House Chamber

This piece of painting looked extremely like the real thing

I particularly liked the artworks of Tintoretto, especially the subjects of his portraits who always seemed to be watching you.

Tintoretto when he's younger

Using models and tools to aid in his drawings

The Origin of the Milky Way

Tintoretto when he's older

Archives of the United States of America

A souvenir truck 

Back with the team, we welcomed our tour guide Linda who was ever so enthusiastic and led us to a tour to the Jefferson Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, Martin Luther King Jr Memorial and the Vietnam War Memorial.

Linda sharing more about the memorials we were about to see

Managed to get a shot of the statue of Thomas Jefferson between those pillars

Thomas Jefferson
One of the Founding Fathers and the third President of the United States of America

The statute of Thomas Jefferson faces the White House, that is right behind us in this photo:

Not forgetting the Washington Monument in our background

The Martin Luther King Jr Memorial was dedicated on the 48th anniversary of his "I have a dream" speech, on 28 August 2011. In his speech, he talked about "out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope.” 

This represented the mountain of despair that had been splitted

A stone of hope that emerged

Hopeful

There were 14 quotes of Martin Luther King Jr that talked about peace, equality and justice. Even though it was said decades ago, they still hold deep meanings and remained applicable.

"Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that"

It was surreal to be at the Lincoln Memorial, a scene out of the Planet of the Apes and so many other films. Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States.

The spot where Martin Luther King Jr delivered his "I have a dream" speech

This was where Martin Luther King Jr stood and inspired generations of people

With the ACYPL YSEALI Professional Fellows team

Names of the various federal states were carved on the memorial building

With Alaska and Hawaii, the last two states, on the floor

We then visited the Vietnam War Memorial.

Names of the fallen and missing

A war veteran sharing stories about Vietnam War

Dinner was Turkish at Ankara restaurant, a short walk away from our hotel.

At 9pm, some of us gathered for the second episode of the latest season of Games of Thrones, before we adjourned for the day~