VOA常速英语:America’s Newest Museum Opens, Is a Showcase of African-American Experience(翻译)

“Let us now open this museum to the world.”

It’s America’s newest Museum and it’s fitting that the country’s first black president dedicated it.

“What this museum does shows is that even in the face of oppression,even in the face of unimaginable difficulty, America has moved forward,and so this museum provides contexts for the debates of our times.”

Ringing a bell that hung in a church built by slaves and free blacks.Obama officially opened the National Museum of African-American history and culture in Washington.

It was a celebration for thousands who journeyed to the nation’s capital to be among the first to see the museum.

“The picture that they use that from the chronological approach that they used was exceptional.”

The museum takes visitors on a journey through time from the dark chapters of slavery through racial segregation and discrimination.

“A lot of people don’t want to talk about slavery, but I think it’s very important,because, you know, our ancestors came from Africa.They were brought over here, they were slaves and I don’t think that it’s something to be ashamed of.I think that they’re very strong that they made it this far.

Many items in the museum are priceless heirlooms from family collections.The collections tell the stories not just famous people but also those of ordinary people determined to make their lives better,such as Alex Davis from Michigan who participated in the civil-rights demonstrations.

“I think the kids today need to know that there was a history that needed to be changed and somebody had to do that,so it’s like I tell my kids I marched so that you don’t have to.”

People here say the museum will serve as a lasting showcase of the challenges African-Americans have faced,and how much they have contributed to the country’s history.