Black History

6 must-visit Black museums in Atlanta

ROLLINGOUT.COM — There is no question that Atlanta is the best city to visit for a real Black history lesson. With Atlanta playing a major role in the history of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and of the Civil Rights Movement, it comes as no surprise that the largest museum of primary resources for both are housed in Atlanta. Five out of six of the museums are located in the epicenter of African American history on Auburn Avenue. Whether you live in Atlanta or are planning on a visit in the near future, these six landmarks should be on your list.

Published

5 years ago

May 8, 2019

Oakland Post

By Rollingout.com

There is no question that Atlanta is the best city to visit for a real Black history lesson. With Atlanta playing a major role in the history of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and of the Civil Rights Movement, it comes as no surprise that the largest museum of primary resources for both are housed in Atlanta. Five out of six of the museums are located in the epicenter of African American history on Auburn Avenue. Whether you live in Atlanta or are planning on a visit in the near future, these six landmarks should be on your list.

The King Center
449 Auburn Ave NE
Atlanta, GA 30312
(404) 526-8900

The King Center is the primary source of materials on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the American Civil Rights Movement. The collection consists of the papers of Dr. King and those of the organization he co-founded — the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, records of eight major civil rights organizations and several other individuals who were active in the Movement. The museum houses more than 200 oral history interviews with teachers, friends, family, and other civil rights associates of Dr. King.

Auburn Avenue Research Library on African American Culture
101 Auburn Ave NE,
Atlanta, GA 30303
(404) 613-4001

The Auburn Avenue Research Library is a part of the Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System but offers specialized reference and archival collections dedicated to the study and research of African-American culture, history and others of African descent.

Spelman College Museum of Fine Art
350 Spelman Ln SW
Atlanta, GA 30314
(404) 270-5607

The Spelman College Museum of Fine Art is the only museum in the nation emphasizing art by women of the African Diaspora, located on the historic Spelman College campus.

MLK National Historic Site
450 Auburn Ave NE
Atlanta, GA 30312

The MLK National Historic Site consists of 35 acres of family-friendly learning and fun. The historic site includes the visitor center, the BEHOLD Monument, “I Have A Dream” World Peace Rose Garden, MLK Jr.’s Birth Home, Fire Station No. 6, the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church, The King Center, Dr. & Mrs. King’s Tomb, and Freedom Hall.

Hammonds House Museum
503 Peeples St SW
Atlanta, GA 30310
(404) 612-0481

The Hammonds House Museum displays a 250-piece collection that features the work of African-American artists from the 19th century to the present. It is the only fine arts museum in Atlanta that features artists of African-American descent.

The APEX Museum
135 Auburn Ave NE
Atlanta, GA 30303
(404) 523-2739

The Apex Museum was founded in 1978 by Mr. Dan Moore and is full of history presented from the Black perspective.

This article originally appeared in Rollingout.com.

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Art

Marin County: A Snapshot of California’s Black History Is on Display

The Marin County Office of Education, located at 1111 Las Gallinas Ave in San Rafael, will host the extraordinary exhibit, “The Legacy of Marin City: A California Black History Story (1942-1960),” from Feb. 1 to May 31, 2024. The interactive, historical, and immersive exhibit featuring memorabilia from Black shipyard workers who migrated from the South to the West Coast to work at the Marinship shipyard will provide an enriching experience for students and school staff. Community organizations will also be invited to tour the exhibit.

Published

1 day ago

April 16, 2024

Oakland Post

Early photo of Marin City in the exhibit showing the first department store, barber shop, and liquor store. (Photo by Godfrey Lee)

By Post Staff

The interactive, historical, and immersive exhibit featuring memorabilia from Black shipyard workers who migrated from the South to the West Coast to work at the Marinship shipyard will provide an enriching experience for students and school staff. Community organizations will also be invited to tour the exhibit.

All will have the opportunity to visit and be guided by its curator Felecia Gaston.

The exhibit will include photographs, articles and artifacts about the Black experience in Marin City from 1942 to 1960 from the Felecia Gaston Collection, the Anne T. Kent California Room Collection, The Ruth Marion and Pirkle Jones Collection, The Bancroft Library, and the Daniel Ruark Collection.

It also features contemporary original artwork by Chuck D of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame group Public Enemy, clay sculptures by San Francisco-based artist Kaytea Petro, and art pieces made by Marin City youth in collaboration with Lynn Sondag, Associate Professor of Art at Dominican University of California.

The exhibit explores how Marin City residents endured housing inequities over the years and captures the history of plans to remove Black residents from the area after World War II. Throughout, it embodies the spirit of survival and endurance that emboldened the people who made Marin City home.

Felecia Gaston is the author of the commemorative book, ‘A Brand New Start…This is Home: The Story of World War II Marinship and the Legacy of Marin City.’ Thanks to the generous contribution of benefactors, a set of Felecia’s book will be placed in every public elementary, middle, and high school library in Marin.

In addition, educators and librarians at each school will have the opportunity to engage with Felecia in a review of best practices for utilizing the valuable primary sources within the book.

“Our goal is to provide students with the opportunity to learn from these significant and historical contributions to Marin County, California, and the United States,” said John Carroll, Marin County Superintendent of Schools.

“By engaging with Felecia’s book and then visiting the exhibit, students will be able to further connect their knowledge and gain a deeper understanding of this significant historical period,” Carroll continued.

Felecia Gaston adds, “The Marin County Office of Education’s decision to bring the Marin City Historical Traveling Exhibit and publication, ‘A Brand New Start…This is Home’ to young students is intentional and plays a substantial role in the educational world. It is imperative that our community knows the contributions of Marin City Black residents to Marin County. Our youth are best placed to lead this transformation.”

The Marin County Office of Education will host an Open House Reception of the exhibit’s debut on Feb. 1 from 4 p.m. – 6 p.m.. All school staff, educators, librarians, and community members are encouraged to attend to preview the exhibit and connect with Felecia Gaston. To contact Gaston, email MarinCityLegacy@marinschools.org