Black History Month: Governor Moore gives $5 Million to preserve Maryland’s Black history

Preserving Black History

MARYLAND – The start of February marks the beginning of Black History Month. Maryland’s Governor is hoping to help preserve the state’s rich and historical history in the way of new funding.

African History is American History

“How can you really… how can you really understand American life and democracy if you don’t learn and understand Black History?” says Johnson. It’s that history that Governor Wes Moore’s administration is trying to preserve.

Just recently he announced $5 million in African American Heritage Preservation Grants in conjunction with the Maryland Department of Planning and Historical Trust.

Jesse Jackson to Billy- Gene Jackson

Maryland Commission of African American History and Culture and the Banneker Douglas Tubman Museum Executive Director Chanel Compton Johnson says this is necessary for the future of Maryland.

“It is critical that Black History, Maryland Black History- being the home of so many African American greats and trailblazers. Some, we well know like Harriet Tubman, Fredrick Douglass, but some that are lesser names that are local community heroes that our museums are keeping those stories alive to preserve community memories.”

Money to Memorialize 

The total, 31 organizations will receive a piece of the pie. In Worcester County, the Tyree African Methodist Episcopal Church in Berlin will use $250,000 to support structural work to the foundation and the original bell tower.

The Freetown, Education, Research, and Cultural Museum in Snow Hill will use their quarter million to rehabilitate a building for their future home. The Governor is thanking all recipients for their dedication to memorializing pieces of history he says are too often forgotten.

For more information on Maryland’s rich history or the historical trust, visit their website.