African American Museum of Southern Arizona
Opening and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony- January 14, 2023
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We hope you had a wonderful Martin Luther King Jr. Weekend of Service and Celebration!
We Did!
The African American Museum of Southern Arizona Board of Directors and Advisory Board extend our heartfelt "Thank You!" Tucson, Southern Arizona, and everyone else who came by to support the opening of the African American Museum of Southern Arizona.
We were delighted as Dr. Lehman Benson, University of Arizona Vice President of Black Advancement and Engagement, read a message from the University of Arizona President,
Dr. Robert Robbins, who was out of town.
We are grateful for Dr. Robbins’ message and support and for the delivery from Dr. Benson!
Bob Elliott, Chair and Co-Founder, made brief welcoming remarks. Then the mainspring for the museum, Jody, cut the ribbon!
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Great Attendance!
We are collecting data to assist us with grants and record keeping. We are excited to share that from our visual count more than 360 people attended the AAMSAZ ribbon cutting and opening.
Thank you for your support
and making our opening day
unforgettable!
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A walk through the Student Union Memorial Center at the University of Arizona now offers an opportunity to learn about how African Americans shaped the history of Southern Arizona.
January 16, 2023 marked the 30th anniversary of Arizonans celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. Day. In 1992 the holiday was still the center of political tension.
Read more from the Arizona Daily Star!
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"We are preserving and working hard to make sure that African American history in Southern Arizona — which has actually come from all over the world — is here and that you can come and learn something," said Beverely Elliott, co-founder and executive director of the museum. "We want people to leave our museum saying, 'I didn't know that'.''
One thing new visitors to AAMSAZ may not know is that Arizona was the last state in the country to recognize Martin Luther King Jr. Day a state holiday.
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AAMSAZ is also a repository of memories for Arizona's African American community. So far, Elliott has recorded 15 oral histories with longtime residents — including teachers and veterans — about their experiences living, working, and going to school in Southern Arizona. Collecting memories about how life has and hasn't changed for African Americans in Arizonan, while people with that perspective are still living, is one example of how AAMSAZ wants to extend its reach into the broaderTucson community. | | |
Thank you, Joe Jackson, for photographing the opening ceremony so beautifully! | |
KGUN Spotlight on AAMSAZ! | |
We are truly honored for the support from the Community Foundation of Southern Arizona and that KGUN selected the museum as the non-profit "Doing Well by Doing Good" as part of your Giving Project this month. We appreciate you all! | | |
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We're excited to share our
African American history in Arizona.
We are still adding to our collection.
The exhibits cover a variety of people and topics, including:
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Coach Fred Snowden, head coach of the UA basketball team and the first African American in the country to coach a Division I team. This year we are celebrating 50 years since this historic Hiring! 50-Year anniversary at the UA McKale Center!
- The CROWN Act to assist in legislation to prevent hair discrimination against natural Black hair.
- The Buffalo Soldiers of Southern Arizona and their amazing impact on establishing Southern Arizona.
For more African American digital history, please visit https://www.aamsaz.org/.
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Plan to Visit the Museum Soon!
The museum is in the process of securing volunteers and setting up training in the next few weeks so that the museum can move toward regular hours of Tuesday – Saturday, 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM, to start. We will evaluate after the first few months, so please stay tuned. AAMSAZ is closed when the University of Arizona is closed or not in session.
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AAMSAZ will be closed
March 1st – March 6th
as the museum will become a lounge
for the amazing Tucson Festival of Books!
We hope to see you there!
Check out the Tucson Festival Books
and find some of the most
inspiring speaker and writers.
TUCSON… get out to join us and over 150,000 other people/day who don’t want to miss this!
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Seats Available… but are going fast! | |
HSL Tucson Jazz Festival
January 13-22, 2023
Don’t miss it! More than 20 world-class performers will appear.
The Tucson Jazz Festival was created to influence the discovery and celebration of live jazz performance and music education.
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NOGALES BUFFALO SOLDIERS
The Nogales Buffalo Soldiers Legacy Association in Nogales, AZ, invites you to attend a Free Celebration in Nogales!
While you’re in Nogales, visit Camp Stephen Little Park Marker, Charles Mingus Memorial, The Reed School Marker (Grand Avenue), and the US/Mexico Border Marker!
Saturday, January 28, 2023
Veteran’s Salute at Nogales Cemetery
10 – 11:30
Featuring: Mayor Maldonado, Ft. Huachuca Color Guard, Buffalo Soldier (re-enactors), and the Nogales High Singers.
Afternoon speaker …
And more ...
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FIGHT THE POWER
How HIP HOP
Changed The World!
-- From Executive Producer Chuck D
PREMIERES TUESDAY, JANUARY 31 AT 9/8C
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About the Show
"Fight the Power: How Hip Hop Changed the World" is an incredible narrative of struggle, triumph, and resistance that will be brought to life through the lens of an art form that has chronicled the emotions, experiences, and expressions of Black and Brown communities: Hip Hop. In the aftermath of America's racial and political reckoning in 2020, the perspectives and stories shared in Hip Hop are key to understanding injustice in the U.S. over the last half-century.
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ARIZONA STATEHOOD DAY
AT THE ARIZONA HISTORY MUSEUM
IN TUCSON!
Arizona Historical Society locations in Tempe and Tucson
are celebrating Arizona Statehood Day
on Saturday, February 4
with a free open house.
Join us for family
activities and fun!
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Registration is recommended
for this FREE day at the museum!
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Gifts in any amount are always welcomed. Please use our easy and secure online giving site.
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Do you have a legacy story or an oral history to share? How about an African American or African American-related collection that you want to donate to AAMSAZ? Let's connect. Please email us and let us know at AAMuseumofSouthernAZ@gmail.com.
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Email us to join the AAMSAZ newsletter email list.
Please know that we do not share or distribute
emails that we receive.
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Find AAMSAZ on Facebook and Twitter.
Use #aamsaz and #aams_AZ on your social media posts.
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