A community in transition: Black history museum will serve all residents

Thursday, March 15, 2007

A community in transition: Black history museum will serve all residents

In his own words | Rev. Samie Conyers

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Editor’s note: For the last three years, the African-American Resources Cultural and Heritage committee has been working to establish a museum in Frederick to honor the contributions and accomplishments of blacks across the county. The museum is still in the concept stage, and the group is working to make it a reality in the near future.

As the African-American people who were born and lived in Frederick County die, many of their legacies die with them. After the death of William O. Lee, his wife, along with members of the original AARCH committee, asked me if I would be willing to jump-start the African-American community vision with having a black history museum in Frederick County. After a year of reorganization, I was elected as the president of AARCH.

A black history museum in Frederick County would serve to educate residents and aid African-American youth in experiencing the richness of their predecessors and creating hope of opportunity for a brighter future for themselves and generations to come. Many youth in the black community are searching for identity (a role model, leadership, discipline) and the path to their destiny.

The contributions of African-Americans reach beyond sports and entertainment. Society as a whole must understand the scientific innovations accomplished by those in the black community. We must recognize the accomplishments by African-American scientists, as they are role models for young people and refute claims of the intellectual inferiority of the race.

At the museum, students will learn the importance of artifacts as they examine the lives of African-Americans living in Frederick’s early years. They will also learn what some history books and⁄or other written sources fail to teach you.

We must involve as many people as possible — the whole community — in order to see the reality of a Black History Museum in Frederick County. We need researchers and educators from every facet of life, from every race, religion and culture. Our diversity is one of our greatest strengths.

AARCH seeks to cultivate an appreciation for a Black History Museum in Frederick County. This museum will be the light shining triumphantly within the black community of our culture and heritage. This county must take ownership in its diversity and demonstrate the untapped power that it contains. We will not be successful in this mission without all people working together.

The promotion of diversity and helping others understand the history of African-Americans are the benefits of having this museum. By sharing the accomplishments and contributions of African-American residents of Frederick County and around the world, one can appreciate their involvement. We can see how all of us, together, benefit from one another’s talents, values and often, sacrifices.

The Rev. Samie Conyers is president of the African-American Resources Cultural and Heritage committee, a program of the Frederick Historic Sites Consortium and Tourism Council of Frederick County, Inc. Conyers oversees Grace Pentecostal Worship Center in Frederick and serves on the county’s Human Relations Commission.