“Excuse me, sir. Is it possible for me to get in and just see the gift shop?”

Visiting Washington, D.C., for business last November, I was drawn to the brand-new National Museum of African American History & Culture. The waiting list for tickets was eight months long to get in, but it was a warm, sunny day so I walked there from my hotel just to see what it looked like.

“No sir, you have to have a ticket,” I was told.

“Well, OK, just thought I’d try.”

The ticket-taker paused, looked me up and down and gave me a conspiratorial smile.

“Hold on.”

He reached into his coat pocket and produced a ticket, then he winked and told me to enjoy myself.

It was as though Shirley was looking out for me.

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Helen Gilbert places flowers on her brother Eurie Martin’s grave at Camp Spring Baptist Church in Sandersville. Her brother died eight years ago. Three former Washington County deputies are accused of causing his death and are set to stand trial Monday. (Miguel Martinez/AJC)

Credit: Miguel Martinez-Jimenez