These
exhibitions - “The Bronx African-American Experience”
and “Morrisania Memories” - are a natural extension
of the partnership formed between The Society and Fordham University’s
Department of African and African American Studies that has created
The Bronx African American History Project to document the history
and heritage of Bronxites of African descent. In addition to examining
its own holdings in the preparation of these exhibitions, the Project’s
researchers, and volunteers have contributed documentation through
music, oral histories, material culture collections, as well as
technical and scholarly advice, in this collaborative process.
There are now over a half million people of African descent living
in The Bronx, well over a third of the population of the borough.
African Americans have been an integral part of Bronx history of
the Bronx since colonial times, have contributed greatly to the
borough's cultural and political history, and have recently played
a major role in the borough's revitalization, but there has been
almost nothing written about this large and diverse population.
This lack of documentation and absence of primary source material
prompted the establishment of The Bronx African American History
Project, today in its third year.
“The
Bronx African-American Experience” is an overview of Bronx
African-American history from the 17th century. “Morrisania
Memories” takes a closer look at the solid cultural, religious,
and educational roots put down in Morrisania’s African-American
community from the 1940s into the early 1960s that fostered, among
many things, a rich musical tradition that has resonated worldwide.
The exhibts open with a reception for members and friends on on
Thursday, October 20th from 4:30 pm to 7:30 pm, and will be on display
until Sunday, April 16, 2006.
The
Museum of Bronx History is open Saturdays 10AM-4PM, Sundays 1PM-5PM
[group tours available during the week by appointment]. Admission
is $3.00 general public; $2.00 - children, seniors, students. For
further information call (718) 881-8900 or visit The Bronx County
Historical Society’s website at www.bronxhistoricalsociety.org
