Symbolism and Meaning

These two images were taken from inside the National Museum of African American History and Culture one of the Smithsonian Museums in Washington DC.  The outside of the building is clad in a bronze overlay, sort of bars keeping the contents inside. 

The history of African's in the United States is intertwined with bondage of slavery and racism.  I found the top image, with the American flag, being viewed through the enclosure symbolic of the experience of many persons of color, they can see the promise of the country through barriers. 

The second image shows the Washington Monument, from a gallery honoring all of the black Congressional Medal of Honor awardees, how ironic that the National Museum of African American History and Culture is in the shadow of a monument to a founding father, and slave owner.