Reflection: Our final Day in DC

White House Tour

We started off our morning with sleepy faces and fast movement to get dressed. After we ate breakfast, I put on my formal attire and we all headed to the White House for a tour. It was a great feeling to know that I was in the house where my President, Barack Obama, lives. It was an experience that most people might not ever have.

Walking by the White House gave us a chance to look at all the beautiful trees and statues around it. Before we headed straight in, they had to ask us our names to see if we were on their list for the White House tour. There were two check points.There was a high capacity of guards and secret service men, they only do it for the safety of the civilians, the White House, and the First Family. 

MBK College Tour participants pose at the White House

After getting through security, we started our White House tour and we were able to see everything in person. The red room is a favorite for many First Ladies because of its vibrant color. Also in 1933 First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt used the red room to host the first of many press conferences for women reporters who at that time were excluded from the President’s press conferences. Next was the blue room,the President uses the blue room to receive many of his guests. Also it was refurbished by President Martin Van Buren in 1837. It was first named by John Quincy Adams which he called the Green Drawing Room. Next we viewed the East Room, it is used for dances, receptions, press conferences, ceremonies, concerts, and banquets. It was designed by James Hoban and George Washington to be a “Public Audience Room.” The State Dining Room is next, as the nation grew, so did the invitation list to official functions at the White House. The room that was once Jefferson’s library and office became a dining room. Recently, Stevie Wonder performed there.

The Red Room

Smithsonian National Museum of African Art

After the White House tour we went to the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art. There was really beautiful artwork and it amazed me how artists used materials that aren’t usually used to make sculptures. There was a mask that really stood out, it was called the crest mask (Chi Wara Kun) and it was crafted in the early mid 20th century. This served as the museum’s first symbol, it was worn in masquerades as part of a male-female pair that taught, praised, and encourage others. They had many other pieces  that were painted, but within those pictures were meanings behind them, which made them unique.

African art at the Smithsonian

Newseum

We went to the Newseum after we finished at the Smithsonian Museum of African Art. There was a special exhibit that showcased the 50^th Anniversary of the  civil rights movement.  In 1965, it gives you the story of how African Americans fought for their civil rights. They had help from significant people such as, Martin Luther King and Malcolm X. Not only did it have black people fighting for their rights, some whites felt the same way that blacks felt. They also talked about the freedom riders and their trials and tribulations. There were also exhibits on Pulitzer Prize photographs. For instance, there was a story about a young starving girl in Africa, and a vulture lying not too far from the girl. The photographer thought it would be a great idea to capture this picture. After publishing the picture, he got criticized for capturing a picture of a baby getting ready to get eaten by a vulture. After all the criticism he ended up committing suicide. We also saw the Great Wall of Berlin, which was 12 feet high and full of graffiti, this wall was torn down in 1989. The wall getting taken down was a major victory for freedom in Germany.

MBK on their last day

We had enough time to visit two of the Memorials, we went to the MLK Memorial and Lincoln Memorial. We saw many quotes of Martin Luther King at the MLK Memorial. We then went to the Lincoln Memorial and saw the Lincoln statue inside the big building. As we looked straight ahead from the building, we saw the National Monument reflecting in the water, which looks really beautiful. The one I liked the the most was the MLK Memorial. it was very cool to see his statute and read his famous and powerful quotes. Once we finished looking at everything, we decided to go back to the hotel and try the hotel food.

We had a great time and will forever remember these moments as one our greatest adventures with Ms. Regina. We appreciate Ms. Regina for all that she’s done and we love her so much. We thank Southwest Airlines for making it all possible, and of course Ms.Talia, the EOYDC, and all the people that took the time to visit with us.

-Cota Ward and Langston Scott