Museum of African American History displays range from slavery to Prince

From slave shackles to Prince’s tambourine: when the Smithsonian’s African American museum opens next month, it will offer visitors a layered journey through the long and complicated history of black people in America written in artifacts large and small, old and new....[T]he museum’s third floor will feature a tambourine from Prince’s 1990 Nude tour. "He was always looking forward, working to expand his knowledge and understanding," said Sheila E, a musician and longtime Prince collaborator. "He pushed every boundary of art and challenged every concept of the way things were ‘supposed’ to be, in music and life.” Read More

A tambourine = "being featured"? Come On Now.

FlyOnTheWall said:

The Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture sits in the shadow of the Washington monument. Photograph: Alan Karchmer/NMAAHC

Museum of African American History displays range from slavery to Prince

From slave shackles to Prince’s tambourine: when the Smithsonian’s African American museum opens next month, it will offer visitors a layered journey through the long and complicated history of black people in America written in artifacts large and small, old and new....[T]he museum’s third floor will feature a tambourine from Prince’s 1990 Nude tour. "He was always looking forward, working to expand his knowledge and understanding," said Sheila E, a musician and longtime Prince collaborator. "He pushed every boundary of art and challenged every concept of the way things were ‘supposed’ to be, in music and life.” Read More

StopIt said:

A tambourine = "being featured"? Come On Now.

FlyOnTheWall said:

The Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture sits in the shadow of the Washington monument. Photograph: Alan Karchmer/NMAAHC

Museum of African American History displays range from slavery to Prince

From slave shackles to Prince’s tambourine: when the Smithsonian’s African American museum opens next month, it will offer visitors a layered journey through the long and complicated history of black people in America written in artifacts large and small, old and new....[T]he museum’s third floor will feature a tambourine from Prince’s 1990 Nude tour. "He was always looking forward, working to expand his knowledge and understanding," said Sheila E, a musician and longtime Prince collaborator. "He pushed every boundary of art and challenged every concept of the way things were ‘supposed’ to be, in music and life.” Read More

What would be a more accurate billing, StopIt?

Why not feature one of his guitars? So many folks didnt realize how awesome he was.Especially as a black artist.When most people think of black artist with a guitar they think B.B King and of course Jimi Hendrix.In all these years I can't think of a single African American artist who can hold it town with him except Lenny Kravitz. They really should've choose to feature a guitar more so than a frickin tambourine. Really? They could've at least dug up some of his written music notes or music sheets or something else to showcase his talents.This man was an innovator and composed music for ballets etc. A tambourine? Really? Goddamn.....

The Smithsonian has one of his Cloud guitars. I don't know which building it is in, or if it is currently displayed. The finest AA musician of all time and he gets what? Come on.

I agree. If they could have decade by decade exhibit - instruments, costumes ... that would be great.

1Sasha said:

NorthC said:

Then they need to have a guitar first! I don't know the museum's budget nor how often Prince's guitars show up at auctions, but I imagine that now that he's gone, the price of one of his axes would be sky high.

True.

flyscdiva said:

FlyOnTheWall said:

FlyOnTheWall said:

1Sasha said:

I agree. If they could have decade by decade exhibit - instruments, costumes ... that would be great.

I love that idea. He is definitely worthy of a major display. From what I've read, he kept lots and lots of things like that in storage for the Paisley Park museum. I know he would freely offer up numerous items for display...and be honoured to do so. [Edited 8/31/16 6:39am]

Excatly. A MAJOR display. Something to convey his massive talents to the folks of the future who will view this and have no clue about him. I get price could be a factor and availablity of some items. It's still cool though. Just a little underwhelming for me. lol

So..... a display that is striving to exhibit "African American History and Culture", (if that is an accurate title of their display as was posted here), would require more than "a Prince tambourine" to be a "featured" component of such a display. Seems all agree on that note. Though yes, that singular item is a nice and storied item.

Yes, as of early July, the yellow cloud was on display at the American National History Museum there (or whatever that companion building/entity its called there,) b/c my family was there. That was not the point.

I'm sure they have no shortage of Prince related articfacts to select from to include, please.

A symbol tambourine?! I'm on the next plane! Because...you know...nothing says "Prince" like a tambourine!

Good grief...

And they interviwed Sheila over that! A tambourine?!?

Well damn...Im glad they thought about him to include him in the Museum tambourine or not

As it should be. He is an African American story, He was a trailblazer, a cultural phenomenon. It’s a comfort to know his legacy will be studied, researched and preserved. Wonderful!

ldmendes said:

As it should be. He is an African American story, He was a trailblazer, a cultural phenomenon. It’s a comfort to know his legacy will be studied, researched and preserved. Wonderful!

agreed

nursev said:

Well damn...Im glad they thought about him to include him in the Museum tambourine or not

Thank you, nursev!!!! Sheesh!! This is a tough crowd.

ldmendes said:

As it should be. He is an African American story, He was a trailblazer, a cultural phenomenon. It’s a comfort to know his legacy will be studied, researched and preserved. Wonderful!

This is very nice.

Tambourine????? That's kind of like their picking the song Tambourine to entirely represent his song catalogue

FlyOnTheWall said:

nursev said:

Well damn...Im glad they thought about him to include him in the Museum tambourine or not

Thank you, nursev!!!! Sheesh!! This is a tough crowd.

tough crowd indeed ur welcome

Oh, ok, a tambourine... And one I already have. Maybe I will just open my own Smithsonian Museum of African American History. Why not. I have Michael Jackson's shoelaces too...