The Tubman Museum: Inspiring visitors to see history through the eyes of African Americans

The history of Black Americans is marred by racism, slavery and hardship, but The Tubman Museum Executive Director Harold Young, aims to leave visitors feeling inspired.

“We’ve shown how African Americans, our culture, has overcome some adversities, through slavery, through the Civil Rights, through the other movements,” he said. “And being able to overcome and achieve a great deal.”

African American art, history and culture are all a part of American history, explained Young, and the museum’s purpose is to reflect those three elements through the eyes of African Americans. 

Young, who moved from Los Angeles to Macon in 2008, began his career at The Tubman as the events director in 2015. He managed annual events like the Pan African Festival and All That Jazz. 

While he still coordinates the museum’s special events, as director, Young also focuses on the overall vision and sustainability of The Tubman. 

“That’s what keeps me up at night, making sure that the museum stays open,” he said, noting that raising money is the most challenging aspect.

Some folks didn’t think the museum would last, according to Young, but he hopes to garner national attention.

He is even looking into trading exhibits with the Smithsonian in Washington or the National African American Museum Association. 

The Tubman Museum, in collaboration with the Opera House will host a Michael Jackson Live impersonator performance, brought from Las Vegas. 

Cultural Shifts

In the aftermath of the pandemic, The Tubman has seen an increase in visitors. The killing of George Floyd and the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement has also caused a cultural shift towards greater efforts from people of all backgrounds to understand the African American experience.

“We’re not stuck there,” Young said of African American people’s history of resilience. “Just to see that a whole culture of people, a whole population of people, can go through all of what they went through, and [they’re] still around. Still trying to achieve and still striving to bring people with them.”

Young wants to bring the stories of successful Black Americans to the forefront, giving visitors a slice of history that doesn’t usually make the textbooks. 

For example, one of Young’s all time favorite exhibits at the museum, Tyler Perry Exhibit, reflects on the life and career of the iconic “Madea” creator. 

“The opportunity to embark on a faith-filled journey of hope, strength, and dedication from a living legend, will spur a new generation to visualize their dreams and turn them into reality,” reads the exhibit description on The Tubman website. The exhibit opened in February 2023 and will run until February 2025.

 Teaching Kids to Overcome

Young’s desire to capture the success and forward movement of African Americans has become a goal in teaching the younger generation. At Heritage Camp, the museum’s free summer youth camp, kids explore African American culture — making jewelry and participating in a drum circle. 

“We don’t dwell on so much of the negativity part of the slavery,” said Young. “We talk about more the achievement of coming out of it, because slavery is real, it did happen.”

Young emphasized tenacity, drive and the importance of always finding a way to “bring people with them,” in teaching young kids about the history of slavery. 

“It’s all about your delivery and telling the story and making it relatable to them,” he said.

As an example, Young likened Harriet Tubman’s escape to freedom and her eagerness to help others through the Underground Railroad to escaping one’s bedroom and helping others come with.

In the future, Young hopes to incorporate more technology into museum exhibits. Previously, actors have played figures from the Civil Rights movement, but Young talked about the potential of having an AI “living legend” that would give kids the opportunity to see important figures in African American history come to life. 

When he’s not at the museum, Young keeps himself busy in the community. He is a pastor, mentors the youth and runs a radio show on Praise 99.5FM. 

“I enjoy myself. I enjoy life. I enjoy people enjoying whatever I bring to the table,” said Young, who recently received an honorary doctorate degree in humanitarian services from Global Enterprise University in Montgomery, Alabama.

In addition, Young enjoys family time with his wife, who is a school teacher, their six children and five grandchildren. 

“They love running around here,” Young said, smiling at the thought of his grandchildren visiting The Tubman Museum.