"Below us, this building reaches down 70 feet - said Obama, in opening his speech -, its roots spreading far wider and deeper than any tree. And on its lowest level, after you walk past remnants of a slave ship, after you reflect on the immortal declaration that all men are created equal, you can see a block of stone."  A slave block. The building, covered with 3600 plates, evoking an African crown, a tribute to the work of the slaves, protects the effective area of almost 8,000 m2 exhibition. It is inspired by Yoruba Art, New Orleans, the Diaspora and the Caribbean. This Museum, "helps us better understand the lives, yes, of the President, but also the slave; the industrialist, but also the porter; the keeper of the status quo, but also of the activist seeking to overthrow that status quo; the teacher or the cook, alongside the statesman.  And by knowing this other story, we better understand ourselves and each other," said Obama. Actually, the Museum, “A people's Journey – A Nation's Story”, tells us that “The African American experience is the lens through which we understand what it is to be an American." A Museum cannot tell about future. Nevertheless through the three lower History Galleries - From Slavery and Freedom, The Era of Segregation, Changing America - the Museum goes on with the upper three Galleries - Explore more, Community live, Culture - and tries to have a wink to the future. "Good history is a good foundation for a better present and future" (John Hope Franklin). Obama, the first negro American President, opened the Museum taking in his hand that of Ruth a 99-year-old descendant of a former Mississippi slave. Together they rung a bell from the First Baptist Church in Virginia that signaled Emancipation a century and a half ago. This gesture wanted to state that the slavery page of history is over. Unfortunately, the reality is still different. "A museum alone will not alleviate poverty in every inner city or every rural hamlet. It won't eliminate gun violence from all our neighborhoods, or immediately ensure that justice is always colorblind.  It won't wipe away every instance of discrimination in a job interview or a sentencing hearing or folks trying to rent an apartment. Those things are up to us, the decisions and choices we make. It requires speaking out, and organizing, and voting," recognized Obama in his address. To know more see We, too, sing America and Catholic stories emerge and for beautiful pictures see I, Too, Sing America.