Black News - Freedom Archives

NFIT10NAL NOTES . . .NflTi0f:IflL NITES . . .NATIGNAL NGTES
A National Museum of
Afro-American History
and Culture : Gov't Run?
There is yet another conspiracy unfolding
against Black people in this nation . The need to
establish a Museum, archives, and cultural center
for Blacks, that was articulated by Black people
in the past, has fallen prey to three reactionary
forces: racism, opportunism, and ignorance .
Efforts have been made to establish national
museums of Afro-American culture in other
parts of the nation . In 1972, the Ohio General
Assembly passed legislation to create a National
Museum of Afro-American History and Culture
Planning Council . This Planning Council was
appointed by the Governor of Ohio and was to
"advise" the Ohio Historical Society (located in
Columbus) on the creation of the museum . In
1975, the Ohio General Assembly appropriated
the first part of an eventually three million dollar
fund, placed in Central State University's budget
(located in Wilberforce), for the planning of a
National Museum of Afro-American History
and Culture . In that same year (1975), an
executive secretary was hired to oversee the dayto-day
planning of the council . In 1976, because
of efforts of several congressmen and senators,
including seven members of the Congressional
Black Caucus, the 94th U .S . Congress approved
HR 13221 and S 3419, which with the President's
signature, became Public Law 94-518 .
The object of this law was to have the federal
government investigate and later establish and
a national Afro-American museum in the
Wilberforce, Greene County area of Ohio . The
Ohio Historical Society then began to conspire to
gain control of the museum project and complete
jurisdiction over the museum itself . The
Planning Council recently approved $450,000 to
be appropriated to a task force organized by the
Ohio Historical Society .
The Issues and Contradictions :
1) It is implausible that a national museum and
cultural center for Black people be run by a state
institution - The Ohio Historical Society .
2) That the Ohio Historical Society be given
jurisdiction over an institution representing
Blacks is an insult and injury . The Ohio
Historical Society is a racist institution . To wjt :
Out of an 18-member Board of Directors, only
one is Black . In its 105-year history, it has only
had two Black Board members . It has 'only six
professional Black employees out of over 400
total . It has no on-going museum exhibits
depicting the history of Blacks or any minorities .
Its director has publicly insulted Black people,
i .e . at the annual statewide meeting of the
Association for the Study of Afro-American Life
and History, he walked off the stage and out of
the meeting while being addressed by members of
a Black audience . It shows unwillingness to
accept contributions from minority staff
members which directly benefits a minority
community (i .e ., Preservation Redevelopment
and the Black Experience conference held
August 30, 1978) . Its under-utilization of Blacks
and females, and salary level disparity between
Black and white professionals . This is also
exhibited in non-professional employment .
3) The Planning Council appointed by the
Governor has : Used their positions on the
Council for political clout or financial gain (The
executive secretary of the Council in three years
has received salary increases in excess of $9,000) .
Partisan attitudes and directives since it is
politically appointed .
4) The Ohio Chapter of the Association for the
Study of Afro-American Life and History : Has
endorsed the efforts of the Ohio Historical
Society and sd'pported the Planning Council .
While yet insulted by the racist attitudes of the
Ohio Historical Society director, and complained
about the racism inherent in the Ohio Historical
Society's policy, has endorsed the National Black
Museum which will be under the control of the
Ohio Historical Society . Has adopted a
resolution to present to the National Association
for the Study of Afro-American Life and History
for the support of the Afro-American Museum
and Culture Center as conceived by the Ohio
Historical Society and the Planning Council .
Let it be resolved that Black people
throughout the United States -should rise in
opposition to the efforts of the Planning
Council, the Ohio Historical Society, and the
Association for the Study of Afro-American Life
and History of Ohio to establish their so-called
National Museum of "Afro-American History
and Culture .
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