WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE - RESEARCHING AND INTERPRETING THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN EXPERIENCE

Museums are striving to improve or incorporate the experiences of Afri can Americans into their interpretations. In doing so, they are challe nged to answer questions that relate to issues of historical relevance to the contemporary society, historical ownership, and perspective. A nswering these questions requires that consideration be given to the c ommunity that is served by the institution, current exhibition, and in terpretive trends. Recent scholarship and a steadfast desire to ''tell it like it was'' are extremely important in a climate where the misin formed often have loud voices. Colonial Williamsburg has had to grappl e with these and other issues during the last 15 years as we have help ed advance the interpretation of slavery and the early African-America n experience at historic sites.