The Glory and the Glitz

The new National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis is a classic jumble of laudable intentions and bad taste

As soon as a tourist steps onto the replica of a Montgomery bus, a prerecorded voice will emanate from the vicinity of the mannequin behind the wheel. "All right, you folks, I want those two seats," the facsimile driver will say. "Y'all better make it light on yourselves and let me have those two seats." In the middle of the bus, a plaster of Paris simulacrum of Rosa Parks will just sit there, a mute symbol of the incident that sparked the epic Montgomery bus boycott. "Look, woman, I told you I wanted the seat!" the mock voice of the bus...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!