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“The truth is, Black music and American music are inseparable,” says Tuwisha Rogers-Simpson.
She is the vice president of brand and partnerships for the National Museum of African American Music (NMAAM), which officially opened its doors on Saturday, January 30.
“The story of the city and how it has built itself to get to where it is today is similar to the story of Black music in America. We believe that this is the right city to tell this story,” says Rogers-Simpson. “It is in our name, the National Museum of African American Music. Nashville really is the centralized place and crossroads of America.”
NMAAM will tell that story to a large audience, from a high-profile location at the Fifth + Broadway mixed-use development. The opening of the museum, like much in 2020, was delayed due to COVID-19, but is imminent. Now that doors are open from an address in the center of the city’s tourist district, museum staff is ready to tell visitors and locals alike what to expect from the institution, which is intended to be the country’s comprehensive collection on Black music across more than 50 genres.
It opens in a year where Black experiences are being amplified and where there’s a nationwide acknowledgment that Black contributions in America have often been underreported.
“These are the conversations we are trying to have,” Rogers-Simpson says.
And she feels the museum—which is designed to engage visitors from all age groups and varying levels of musical scholarship, awareness, and education—will be able to facilitate important conversations and do so in ways that are engaging, harmonious, and, of course, with a great beat.
“I think we are going to blow people’s expectations,” says Rogers-Simpson, who moved to Nashville with her family in June to take the position with NMAAM.
“I know people have high expectations. But until they step in they have no idea how all the voices of Black culture have impacted American culture.”
She calls the combination of contributions “a beautiful gumbo.”
The 56,000 sq. ft.-museum is chock-full of instruments, memorabilia, costumes, and sheet music. It is designed in a circle, so you’ll flow in an intentional way. You’ll start in the physical center in the 190-seat Roots Theater, where you watch a film about the origins of Black music. (That space will also be available to rent for special events.) The film touches on Jim Crow, the Harlem Renaissance, and other periods in history and the music related to them.
The Rivers Rhythm Path will lead you through a multisensory chronological experience around the circle. The first gallery, Wade in the Water, focuses on spiritual and religious music. Yes, gospel is part of that, but not exclusively, and looks at how gospel influenced R&B, soul, doo-wop, and more. From there, move to the Crossroads, which explores the Great Migration, the blues, and the influence of the Mississippi Delta.
The Love Supreme gallery takes visitors to New Orleans, where you’ll learn about Congo Square and the hybrid of sounds that came together to make jazz. Motown, R&B, and post-World War II music is covered in the One Nation Under a Groove gallery. This is where you’ll boogie to “Soul Train” and MTV. Finally, The Message gallery highlights hip-hop and genres that have helped disenfranchised youth speak their truths.
Throughout the galleries you’ll watch iconic moments, such as Prince’s 2007 performance at Super Bowl XLI in the rain. You can sing along with a choir or compete in a rap battle.
The museum is now open with timed tickets to assure reduced capacity, social distancing, and other precautions. Annual memberships are $50 and single adult tickets are $24.95. Both have discounts for seniors and kids or families. The museum is also offering weekly and monthly online programming, such as artists chats and panel discussions of how music can help cultivate equitable relationships. nmaam.org