A PUBLICATION OF THE AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSEUM OF IOWA Nยบ 20.1 - SPRING 2020
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AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSEUM OF IOWA 55 12th Avenue SE Cedar Rapids, IA 52401 Phone: (319) 862-2101 Toll-free: 877-526-1863 Fax: (319) 862-2105 WHAT IS A GRIOT? A griot (pronounced gree-oh) is the member of a group who keeps the history. The Iowa Griot is the membership newsletter of the African American Museum of Iowa.
LETTER FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Happy Black History Month!
BOARD OF DIRECTORS Nancy Humbles (Cedar Rapids), President Ben Hoover (Cedar Rapids), Vice President Maurice E. Davis (Cedar Rapids), Treasurer Jamarco Clark (Ottumwa) , Secretary Anthony Betters, Jr. (Cedar Rapids) Peg Fraser (North Liberty) Ruth Hairston (Cedar Rapids) Dr. Benny Hawkins (Coralville) Abena Sankofa Imhotep (Des Moines) LaShonda Kennedy (Palo Alto, CA) Judge Kevin McKeever (Iowa City) Scott Olson (Cedar Rapids) Vincent Reid (Robins) Tonya Scott (Ft. Madison) Dr. Reginald Stewart (Ames) Reginald Ward (Cedar Rapids) STAFF LaNisha Cassell, Executive Director Brianna Kim, Director of Operations Felicite Wolfe, Curator Sean Donaldson, Museum Educator Diana Henry, Education Assistant Lisa Buckman, Operations Coordinator Jennifer Beall, Communications Associate Harold Walehwa, Patron Services Associate MEMBERSHIP & SUBSCRIPTIONS The Iowa Griot is published quarterly and is provided for members of the African American Heritage Foundation of Iowa. The Iowa Griot is copyright ŠAfrican American Heritage Foundation of Iowa. Reproduction in whole or part without the written consent of the African American Heritage Foundation of Iowa is prohibited. By submitting a manuscript or illustration, the author warrants to the African American Heritage Foundation of Iowa that the material does not infringe on the copyright of another party and that the author assumes full responsibility for any such copyright infringement as may arise following publication.
LaNisha Cassell Executive Director
G
reetings! As we wrap up another successful and educational Martin Luther King, Jr. celebratory season and head into Black History Month, please be sure to stay connected to the Museum for our programming and special events. Remember, our programming is available yearround, #NotJustFebruary. Our current temporary exhibit Untangling the Roots: The Culture of Black Hair will be on display until mid June, but don’t wait to explore. What else is on the horizon? We will be unveiling our new bridge banners in time for our annual Juneteenth celebration. As for Juneteenth, it will take place at NewBo City Market this year. We are excited for this opportunity to increase our ability to educate a broad audience while highlighting diverse talent and celebrating authentic shared history. I look forward to greeting you during your next visit to explore our exhibits or attend our programs. Warmly, LaNisha
BOARD NEWS Congratulations to our new officers Nancy J. Humbles (President), Benjamin Hoover (Vice President), Maurice Davis (Treasurer), and Jamarco Clark (Secretary). The Museum bids a fond farewell to directors Candice Luter and Dr. Neil Patrick, as well as two-term directors Doris Montag, Christopher Lindell, and Rama Muzo. New 2020 directors are highlighted on page six. We are grateful for our directors, who are mission driven and lead with passion.
ON THE COVER Cosmotology students in Crescent Beauty School classroom, 1950s. Collection of the AAMI Gift of Julie James
The Iowa Griot is not a scholarly publication. Opinions expressed by featured authors do not necessarily reflect the principles or policies of the African American Heritage Foundation of Iowa, its board, membership, staff, editor or publisher(s). Neither the African American Heritage Foundation of Iowa board, membership, staff, editor or publisher(s) make any warranty, expressed or implied, with respect to the contents of this publication or to goods and services that may be advertised herein. The African American Heritage Foundation of Iowa reserves the right to revise, edit, or refuse any material submitted for publication in the Iowa Griot.
Pauline Humphrey opened the Crescent School of Beauty Culture in Des Moines in response to the lack of beauty school opportunities for black women. You can learn more about Humphrey and the Crescent Beauty School in our current exhibit Untangling the Roots.
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March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, August 28, 1963. Courtesy of National Archives
COLLECTIONS CORNER
VOICES AND VOTES:
Democracy in America
This summer the AAMI will partner with the Czech Village New Bohemia Mainstreet District and the National Czech and Slovak Museum to bring Voices and Votes: Democracy in America to Cedar Rapids. This Museum on Main traveling exhibit is based on an exhibition on display at the National Museum of American History that explores the history of American democracy from its inception in the 18th Century to more recent struggles to ensure that the ideals of this democracy can be realized for all Americans. The Smithsonian Instition Traveling Exhibition Service states that this adaptation will have many of the same dynamic features as the exhibit in DC, including historical and contemporary photos; educational and archival video; engaging multimedia interactives with short games and additional footage, photos, and information; and historical objects like campaign souvenirs, voter memorabilia, and protest material. We are excited to host this exhibit, which is sure to spark conversations around issues of rights and freedoms that continue to impact American society. Voices and Votes: Democracy in America will be on display at the AAMI from July 3, 2020 to August 15, 2020.
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UN WAV E RIN G:
2 1 S T C E N T U RY A C T I V I S M The AAMI’s 2020-2021 temporary exhibit, Unwavering: 21st Century Activism, will examine contemporary social movements that affect African Americans, from Black Lives Matter to the MeToo movement. These coalitions continue to bring to light the struggle for black civil rights and equality that started over a century ago, most popularly recollected in the Civil Rights and Black Power movements of the 20th century. However, the way movements are organized and mobilized in the 21st century is unique from their predecessors. Visitors will learn about past and present social movements involving the black community, the meaning of protest and social justice in the modern era. They will also learn how people can make change in their communities and the broader world. Unwavering will provide a deeper understanding of how the African American community intersects with other diverse groups in addressing current social justice issues. The exhibit and supporting programming will run from September 19, 2020 to August 7, 2021.
A L I T T L E E D U C AT I O N
Check out this preview of the new and exciting programs coming up at the AAMI! The Museum team is excited to be launching new series and community partnerships in 2020, including several upcoming events to celebrate Black History Month! We can’t wait to have you join us for these initiatives, which will celebrate the importance of black history year-round. Be sure to join us this February and for all of the engaging and educational programs to come! MUSIC SERIES Over the past two years, the AAMI has cultivated a successful performance series featuring musicians from across the country performing styles with roots in African American communities. In 2020, the AAMI is excited to reprise this series with four performances spanning diverse styles. We plan to kick off the new series with a gospel concert in March. With a new mix of traditional jazz and blues along with more contemporary genres, we are excited to increase Eastern Iowa’s access to these art forms. 1619 PANEL SERIES The 1619 Project is an ongoing initiative from The New York Times Magazine (NYTM) that began in August 2019, the 400th anniversary of the beginning of American slavery. It aims to reframe the country’s history by placing the consequences of slavery and the contributions of black Americans at the very center
of our national narrative. As our own continuation of this project, the AAMI will host quarterly panel discussions centered on a theme discussed in the writings published as part of the NYT’s 1619 Project. Each panel will feature a variety of community voices – in many cases Cedar Rapids’ own experts – on topics being discussed, including incarceration, music, democracy, and more. The first moderated discussion is scheduled for February 13th at the AAMI. WHO WAS SERIES In collaboration with the Cedar Rapids Public Library and with sponsorship from The Academy for Scholastic and Personal Success, the African American Museum of Iowa is thrilled to offer a monthly story time focused on 12 key African American trailblazers through the Who Was? series. With over 150 titles, Penguin’s Who Was? series tells the incredible stories of legends, innovators, and creators. Join us on the second Saturday of each month for a read aloud of a Who Was? story and a hands-on activity. Coming up on February 8th, we will celebrate Rosa Parks and in March, it will be “all that jazz” with Louis Armstrong. All program participants will receive a coupon for 10% a copy of your favorite Who Was book from our Museum store Hope to see you and your family at the library!
Join us at the Cedar Rapids Public Library on February 8 at 11 AM to learn about Rosa Parks!
FEBRUARY EVENTS FEBRUARY 8
WHO WAS? A STORY TIME 11:00 AM CEDAR RAPIDS PUBLIC LIBRARY
FEBRUARY 11
MORE THAN JUST A GAME 12:00 PM IOWA CITY PUBLIC LIBRARY
FEBRUARY 13
1619 PROJECT PANEL 7:00 PM AAMI
FEBRUARY 19
CELEBRATING THE ROOTS A SOUL FOOD DINNER 5:30 PM LION BRIDGE BREWING CO. IOWA GRIOT
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FEBRUARY 24
PAINT LIKE A PRO 4:30 PM NORTH LIBERTY LIBRARY
FEBRUARY 24
UNCONDITIONAL LOYALTY 5:30 PM MARION PUBLIC LIBRARY
FIND DETAILS FOR THESE AND ALL OUR UPCOMING PROGRAMS AT BLACKIOWA.ORG/EVENTS.
S AV E T H E D AT E S
Join us for our biggest events of the year!
Juneteenth Saturday, June 20, 2020 NewBo City Market 11am – 4pm
Vendor registration available at blackiowa.org/2020vendors.
History Makers Gala
Thursday, September 24, 2020 Hotel at Kirkwood Center 5pm – 8pm Nominate a History Maker at blackiowa.org/gala. IOWA GRIOT
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MUSEUM
A P E E K AT O U R W E E K
Take a glimpse behind the scenes, and meet our staff! The African American Museum of Iowa has a dedicated team of four full-time and four part-time staff. In each issue of the newsletter this year, we will be featuring different staff members and the work they do to help the museum fulfill its mission. Name: LaNisha Cassell Title: Executive Director How long have you worked at the AAMI? 4 years What did you do last week? As the face of the Museum, I often engage in community conversations, interviews, and meetings with possible sponsors and supporters. My goal is to ensure the “voice” of the Museum is always present and to raise awareness about the educational resources we make available year-round. Museum life is surprisingly fast-paced, and my ability to multi-task and anticipate challenges is critical to accomplishing short and long-term goals. Last week, I spent most of my time on fundraising efforts and working on grant proposals. I led our biweekly team meeting and a committee meeting to start planning our 2020 Juneteenth event. I also covered a shift in the Museum store, approved invoices, processed incoming contributions, and stayed on top of emails with board members, colleagues and peers. Name: Brianna Kim Title: Director of Operations How long have you worked at the AAMI? 6.5 years What did you do last week? Every week at the AAMI looks a little different! My job includes managing the museum’s financial records, and last week I worked on reconciling our bank accounts for the month of December. I also started the process of closing out our books for the 2019 fiscal year, prepared our weekly deposits, and worked on a grant report. I usually have a few meetings every week. Last week there was a planning committee meeting for our annual Juneteenth event and a regular team meeting. I represent the museum on the board of the Iowa Conservation & Preservation Consortium, and had a virtual board meeting last week as well. With such a small staff, we all wear many hats and help each other out. Last week, I helped replace emergency light batteries, reset the Hall for an event, and assisted with an oral history with two AAMI founders about the organization’s history! Name: Lisa Buckman Title: Operations Coordinator How long have you worked at the AAMI? 8 months What did you do last week? Last week at the AAMI, most of my time was filled with sending thank you letters to all of our supporters who made donations to our annual appeal. As the Operations Coordinator, I manage our rental inquiries and contracts, and I responded to several clients who intend to hold events in our Aldeen Davis Celebration Hall this year. I worked on the year-end inventory of the the Nikee Museum Store and prepared my filing and organizing system for 2020. Several membership applications and renewals arrived over the new year so I logged those and created membership cards for delivery. A collection of bills were paid, as they are every couple weeks, and checks for rental payments, grants, and other donations were logged.
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HAPPENINGS
VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT
Meet our new board president, Nancy Humbles! Mrs. Humbles has served on the board since 2018. She is retired from the University of Iowa, where she served as Director of the Center for Diversity and Enrichment. In addition to serving on the AAMI board, she is the President of the Cedar Rapids Community School District Board of Education and Chair for Women in the NAACP (WIN). “As a child growing up in the 60s, I was led to believe that African Americans were not of great importance in the building of this nation. No one in the schools I attended ever talked about the great things African Americans had contributed. I only knew that we were slaves. Having an African American Museum in Iowa allows the community and state to have a clearer understanding of our greatness as people and the many accomplishments we have made.
This is something that our children need to know. We were not just slaves, but come from Kings and Queens. We have a history that when shared with others enriches their lives. The exhibits and programming offered at the Museum have been very powerful and eye opening. The Museum is able to inform the community/state of the struggles and successes we have made as a people. At times, we have been faced with struggles beyond anyone’s belief and people need to know. As board President and long time educator, I decided to join the board with the hopes of being involved in educating our community/state so everyone has a better understanding of Iowa’s African American rich history.”
Nancy Humbles
NEW BOARD MEMEMBERS ELECTED
Four new individuals have joined our board of directors! Board members typically serve up to two three-year terms. A director elected to fill a vacancy may complete the previous director’s term and two full terms of their own. Board members are elected to serve a three-year term from 2020 – 2022, which can be followed by another three year term upon reelection.
Abena Sankofa Imhotep
Peg Fraser
Dr. Reginald Stewart
Reginald Ward
Abena Sankofa Imhotep (Des Moines) is Executive Director, Sankofa Literary & Empowerment Group. Peg Fraser (North Liberty) is a Career Insurance and Financial Agent at Country Financial. Dr. Reginald Stewart (Ames) is Iowa State University’s inaugural Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion. Reginald Ward (Cedar Rapids) is General Manager at XPO Logistics.
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55 12th Avenue SE Cedar Rapids, IA 52401 (319) 862-2101 www.blackiowa.org
@BlackIowa
VISIT US HOURS
10 A.M. TO 4 P.M. TUESDAY TO SATURDAY
CLOSED SUNDAYS AND MONDAYS
ADMISSION ADULTS: $6
SENIORS: $5 STUDENTS/YOUTH: $3.50 CHILDREN UNDER 5: FREE MEMBERS: FREE
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