Ribbon cutting opens traveling exhibit of local African American educators

By Texas Metro News staff

Noted local educator Dr. Alfred Roberts appeared proud as he welcomed the public to the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the African American Education Archives  and History Program’s (AAEAHP) touring exhibit, on Monday, February 24 in the Dallas City Hall Flag Room.

Many former educators in the audience looked equally proud as Dr. Roberts, the group’s founder and president, acknowledged why it was importance that they all were there.

The group of Dallas-area African American educators has been annually acknowledging the historical significance of its predecessors who devoted their professional lives to educating Black children, since around the early 1900s, as a way to help them gain a better life.

Dr. Roberts, a Paul Quinn College professor emeritus and former Dallas public school assistant superintendent for human resources, gave brief details about the exhibit. He said the display began in 2002 and has been housed for decades at the African American Museum at Fair Park.

The exhibit currently enshrines 183 oral history summaries and photos of honorees from over many decades. The honorees are early and current local Black educators, including a number who now have schools named in their honor.

The group invited the public to witness AAEAHP board members and dignitaries as they cut the ribbon to kick off the exhibit’s touring phase. Touring signals that the exhibit will now be available for schools, churches, and other faith and social organizations to display the exhibit at their various events and special occasions.

AAEAHP member and former DISD principal Verna Mitchell introduced dignitaries who commended the group for its work and for making the now touring exhibit even more accessible to the public. Margie Reese is African American Museum interim executive director since museum founder and executive director Dr. Harry Robinson Jr. recently retired. Reese said the museum executives are pleased to have the exhibit permanently housed at their site and especially as the museum celebrates its 50^th anniversary.

Mitchell also introduced the event’s prime sponsor – Credit Union of Texas – and acknowledged the bank’s historical ties to Texas education. Mitchell explained that the bank originally in the 1930s was the Dallas Teachers’ Credit Union and later became Credit Union of Texas.

Additionally, group members reminded the public that AAEAHP will celebrate this year’s 10 honorees plus two Presidential Awardees at the Hall of Fame luncheon at noon April 12 at Renaissance Dallas Hotel, 2222 N. Stemmons Frwy in Dallas. Honorees are Dr. Helen Benjamin, Cassandra Black, Robert Edison, Dr. Levatta Levels, Dr. Larry Lewis, Bertric Manning, the late Dr. Charles Matthews, Dora Wesley Morris, Cheryl Smith, and Norma Wright. Presidential Awardees are St. Sen. Royce West and arts icon Curtis King. Hall of Fame tickets are available at www.aaeahp.org To inquire further, email loretta.simon@yahoo.com.