ABSTRACT
At the same time, like the Ellis Island site (see chapter 20 in this book), the Antwerp institution attempts to draw in migrations that occurred elsewhere, including stories of recent arrivals. Even though many of these new arrivals come from former European colonies, the museum bears an uneasy relationship to colonialism because promotional items on display exoticize Asian and African destinations; memorabilia such as sheet music from cruises further this tendency. For example, an advertisement invites travelers on a “Showboat cruise” to South America and Africa, among other destinations. Another suggests, “Let’s go Tom-toming” [sic], with a stylized silhouette of an African drummer. Thus, while commercialization is most evident at Ellis Island in the form of sponsorships, here the connection between business and migration is present in the display, which shows two kinds of passengers journeying from Antwerp-emigrants and tourists.
