Director’s Message,
One hundred years ago, in February 1926, Dr. Carter G. Woodson created Black History Week with the purpose of sharing the importance of sharing and learning about and honoring the rich history of Black Americans, their lives and their contributions in our American history and, indeed, in and for this whole wide world’s history.
Throughout my school years, I wasn’t all that enthusiastic about history, it was called ‘Social Studies’ in my day. One of the reasons for this lack of interest, I realized later, was because, although I learned a lot about American History…about Columbus, about the presidents, about the wars… the only people who looked like me or any one in my family was in the section thrown in about slavery or George Washington Carver. I do not remember studying about the Underground Railroad during my school years.
Take into consideration the fact that I graduated from high school way back in 1957, a whole nineteen years before Black History Week became Black History Month. Of course, the adults in our Black Community around us knew a lot about our history, we simply did not learn about it in the class room. My knowledge of my history, at the time of growing up, came from my family telling us kids; showing us kids by telling the stories about or reciting the poetry of people like Paul Laurence Dunbar and James Weldon Johnson. I still get chills and always tear up when I hear or sing the Negro National Anthem.
I remember, with gratitude, sitting cross-legged in front of my Aunt Gladys, listening to her recite the poems of Johnson and Dunbar like Opportunity by Dunbar.
The above statements relate the experiences in the schools of my childhood. I do not and cannot speak for every school. Oh, to have had the opportunity to have learned in one of the Historic Black Colleges.
I am so grateful that students and adults are learning more about Black History as well as all Ethnic History now and I pray we stay open to learning about our neighbors. We are all part of the whole human experience and each and every one of us are a history worth knowing. I do believe that.
Love always,
Della
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Together, we can make a huge difference.
I want to thank everyone who have answered our plea for 300 supporters to commit to donating $10.00 a month to help the Center with sustainability. You are all awesome. At the height of the campaign, 30 people donated, but now we are, and have been for several months now, down to 8 loyal supporters.
We thank and appreciate every single person who sacrificed to help us out. Really, I can not even begin to tell you all how much you have and are helping. God bless you all from my heart.
Please forgive me for pushing to ask again, so dire is the need.
You are the greatest.
Della
At the end of each year, I will send you a record of your donations. We are a 501 (c) 3 and as such, every donation anyone gives to the Center is Tax Deductible. We thank you in advance.
Donations can be sent to the African American Center for Cultural Development (The Center), PO Box 240, Olean, NY 14760 or to the Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation at 201 N. Union St. #203, Olean, NY 14760 in support of the Center. Or you can click on the Donation Button below that goes directly to our account at the Foundation. Donations can also be made through Venmo, if you wish.
I will be charging for some of our events, in an effort to help, but our members and the 300 will be given a discount. And will be on our mailing list for alerts for upcoming events and news.
That’s all for now. Thank you for all your support. God bless you.
Gratefully,
Della
PS: Please take this opportunity to help the efforts of the Center by using the button below to contribute to the Center. Whatever you can donate will be greatly appreciated and much needed. Remember that we are a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization and every penny you donate to help us is tax deductible.
As always,
Della
Support The Center
The Center has established a fund at the Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation to support our fundraising goals. You can donate to the fund to support the Center by using the button below.
