The Charles L. Blockson Afro-American Collection is dedicated to preserving African and Black American history.
The special event opened with greetings and speeches from “Joseph Lucia, dean of Temple University Libraries; Gregory Mandel, Temple provost; and Diane Turner, curator of the Charles L. Blockson Afro-American Collection.”
Vice president for diversity, equity, inclusion, and community impact Valerie Harrison added, “As I have said on many occasions, the Temple University family, Philadelphia community, and people around the world are indebted to Charles Blockson for his unrelenting pursuit of the Black narrative and all of its historical significance.”
The Temple University celebration was attended by Senator Sharif Street, chair of the Mayor’s Commission on African and Caribbean Immigrant Affairs, Jannie Blackwell, director of the social studies curriculum at the School District of Philadelphia, Ismael Jimenez, and others.
Blockson, who originally founded the collection, originally took on the endeavor of collecting African American materials after sitting in a fourth-grade history lesson with a substitute teacher who told the class that “Negros had no history and that they were born to serve white people.”
The Norristown, Pennsylvania, native started collecting pieces enriched with Black history to prove his teacher wrong; now, his mission has grown into a passion for preserving African history.
Noelle stated, “It has been an incredible honor to watch it augment in recognition and volume over the years. It’s just been a beautiful, full-circle moment to see where it is today. Having people come from around the world to see it is amazing. I’m beyond proud and honored.”
Charles L. Blockson’s Afro-American Collection, Turner, expressed that the space is a place for students to learn more about the Black experience.
“When they come in here and they research and find out these things, for the African-American students, it gives them a sense of pride, and for other students, it gives them an understanding and appreciation of the Black experience,” Turner said.
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Source: Black Enterprise
