A Brief Introduction to the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund
The African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund was established in 2017 as a way to acknowledge and protect the cultural heritage of African Americans in the United States. The fund supports projects that preserve historic sites, improve accessibility to public spaces, and promote educational opportunities. One of the fund’s key objectives is to engage and empower African American communities across the country by shining a light on their cultural contributions to society.
5 Notable Projects Funded by the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund
1.
The Tinner Hill Historic Marker and Memorial Plaza (Falls Church, Virginia)
The Tinner Hill Historic Marker and Memorial Plaza project aims to celebrate the legacy of the first African American community to petition for their civil rights in the United States. The Tinner Hill neighborhood was established in Falls Church, Virginia, in the early 1900s. The fund supported the construction of a memorial plaza and historic marker that honors the community’s struggle for civil rights.
2.
The Nina Simone Childhood Home Restoration (Tryon, North Carolina)
The Nina Simone Childhood Home Restoration project is aimed at preserving the childhood home of legendary musician and civil rights activist Nina Simone. The house was purchased by four black artists who formed the Nina Simone Project in 2017. The African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund provided funding for the restoration of the home, including repairs to the roof, windows, and electrical systems.
3.
The Sons and Daughters of the United States Middle Passage Marker (Annapolis, Maryland)
The Sons and Daughters of the United States Middle Passage Marker commemorates the tens of millions of Africans who were forcibly transported to the Americas during the transatlantic slave trade. The memorial was installed in Annapolis, Maryland, in 2019, and is the first in a series of markers that will be placed along the East Coast to acknowledge the contributions of Africans and African Americans to the development of the United States.
4.
The St. Joseph’s African Methodist Episcopal Church Preservation Project (Durham, North Carolina)
St. Joseph’s African Methodist Episcopal Church is the oldest black church in Durham, North Carolina, and a historic landmark of the Civil Rights Movement. The African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund supported the preservation of the church, including the restoration of a stained-glass window that depicts Civil Rights leaders Martin Luther King Jr., Adam Clayton Powell Jr., and others.
5.
The Ethel Lois Payne Documentary Film Project
Ethel Lois Payne was a pioneering African American journalist who covered many of the major civil rights events of the 1950s and 1960s. The African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund provided funding for the production of a documentary film that explores Payne’s life and career. The film highlights her commitment to telling the truth about African American experiences and the struggles of the Civil Rights Movement.
Conclusion
The African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund plays an important role in preserving and promoting African American culture and history in the United States. The fund supports projects that honor the achievements of African Americans and acknowledge the struggles they faced throughout history. These five notable projects funded by the fund demonstrate the diversity and richness of African American cultural contributions in the United States.
