Honoring the African American Museum in Philadelphia on the occasion of both Black History Month and the 30th Anniversary of the Museum.

WHEREAS, Citizens of the United States have recognized black history since 1926, first as “Negro History Week” and then as “Black History Month”; and

WHEREAS,

The celebration of Black History Month, and more importantly, the study of African American history can trace its roots to one Dr. Carter G. Woodson; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Woodson established the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (now called the Association for the Study of Afro-American Life and History) in 1915, and a year later founded the widely respected Journal of Negro History in an effort to ensure that Black Americans held their proper place in American history; and

WHEREAS, One of the primary institutions in this City that celebrates Black history, 365

days a year, was founded in 1976 as the Afro-American Historical and Cultural Museum and is now known today as the African American Museum in Philadelphia (AAMP); and

WHEREAS, AAMP’s mission is dedicated to collecting, preserving and interpreting the material and intellectual culture of African Americans in Philadelphia, the Delaware Valley, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the Americas; and

WHEREAS,

The Museum promotes three tenants that describe the Museum’s public programming which are the African Diaspora, which recognizes the gifts, lineage and the unique cultural expressions that people of African ancestry share throughout the Americas and the world; The Philadelphia Story, which celebrates local and regional cultural achievements while enlightening our audience about the thirst for freedom and liberty shared by past generations; and The Contemporary Narrative, which relates current events, and focuses on our ever-changing universe; and

WHEREAS, AAMP will be celebrating its own history at the inaugural Heritage Gala at the Pennsylvania Convention Center on February 24, 2006 with the theme of celebrating thirty years of

Rekindling the Spirit and Reclaiming the Legacy

;

now therefore

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA,

That we hereby honor the African American Museum in Philadelphia on the occasion of both Black History Month and the 30th Anniversary of the Museum.

FURTHER RESOLVED

,

That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to Romona Riscoe Benson, President and CEO of the African American Museum in Philadelphia for her devotion, intellect and unwavering efforts in the promotion of Black history and art, as evidence of the sincere sentiments of this legislative body.

End