State Pours $400K Into Organizations Teaching WNY's Black History
NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. (WIVB) — Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes announced on Thursday a total of $400,000 in funding for the Michigan Street African American Heritage Corridor in Buffalo and the Underground Railroad Heritage Center in Niagara Falls.
Each organization is set to receive $200,000 from a tourism and cultural operation throughout the state.
“What I think is critically important is that the state of New York understands that tourism and particularly tourism around people of color’s history, is broad and there are a lot of opportunities for hotels to be used, restaurants to be attended to — this is a money opportunity that help people understand, ‘Go Get your History,'” Peoples-Stokes said.
She said she will continue to work towards more funding for the organizations.
“I’m going to put in the work that it takes to help make sure these things are stabilized, and that they grow because it’s not like we can stop right here and learn our history,” Peoples-Stokes said. “We got a long way to go and we have a lot of people behind us. We need to make sure to get access to the information.”
Terry Alford, the executive director of the Michigan Street African American Heritage Corridor, said they’re close to losing $400,000 in federal funding and that American History, especially African American history storytelling, is under attack.
“When you have this, these forces that are against you, it takes this kind of leadership to work with the community, to work with groups and organizations like ours, to keep those stories alive,” Alford said.
The Michigan Street African American Heritage Corridor includes the Michigan Street Baptist Church, which was one of the last stations of the Underground Railroad, the Nash House Museum, the Colored Musicians Club and Jazz Museum, and the WUFO Black Radio History Collective. For more information about them, visit their website here .
The Niagara Falls National Heritage Area includes the Underground Railroad Heritage Center in Niagara Falls, the Cataract House and more. For more information about them, visit their website here .
“We in Niagara Falls that have grown up here have recgonized he importance of our corridor, the Cataract House, that is where the servers were actually assisting those escaping from the South to get over to Canada,” said Assemblyman Angelo Morinello, “The history of the movement of the abolition of slavery and Harriett Tubman, there are many roots but where did they end up at? Right here.”
“Now more than ever, this story is so important,” said Sara Capen, the executive director of the Niagara Falls National Heritage Area. “We are facing unprecedent challenges on the federal level with our funding, the National Heritage Area funding, we are also facing attacks about the stories we tell. This story will continue to be told, and when our funding is threatened, whether on the national level, the state level or the local level, those brass knuckles will come out because I will be there fighting to make sure that those doors stay open.”
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