History speaks out: New exhibit brings revolutionary fervor to African American Museum

THE FLOORS have been covered with carpet depicting 1776 street maps of Philadelphia. The walls mounted with plasma TV screens and multimedia displays. The auditorium expanded and main art galleries spruced up. But the mission of the African American Museum in Philadelphia after its $4.5 million renovation is the same as it was when it opened in 1976: preserve, collect and interpret the history and stories of African-Americans in Philadelphia.
The museum's 30-plus-year history has had its ups and downs. Founded in 1976 during the bicentennial commemoration, it went through a series of financial stumbles and nearly closed in 2004. But after getting a $3 million grant from the city, $500,000 from PECO and the remainder from other donors, the museum got its first face-lift in 33 years. It shut down for three months this spring, but reopened in June with its state-of-the-art displays, interactive exhibits and plans for more improvements.

Ramona Riscoe Benson, president and CEO, estimated that the museum has presented more than 100 exhibits over the past 20 years - collections that make her proud. But she admitted the museum needed some improvements.

"People wanted to see the museum look more modern and less tired," Benson said.

The museum's new permanent exhibit, "Audacious Freedom: African Americans in Philadelphia," traces the impact of African-Americans from 1776-1876. Swelling music, narration and theatrical lighting give life to the two-dimensional timeline which explores the environment, education, religion, entrepreneurship and family traditions of the century.

"This exhibition intends to typify how the black community survived and tell the stories of self-sustaining people like James Forten, Robert Purvis, Richard Allen and Absalom Jones. It really talks about the foundings and the founders of our community,"said curator Richard Watson.

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