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Afro-American Heritage Center

Rock Island, Illinois - Know Your History
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Does Knowing History Matter?
 

In general, no one disputes that it is beneficial to study history; after all, if one wants to become of citizen of the United States or finish compulsory education, he has to pass a test that includes knowledge of American History. Especially telling is the revealed attitudes, behaviors and motives of individuals and groups of people.

Our Mission is help youths gain an accurate understanding of the historical identity of Afro‑Americans in relation to American History. We call it Afro-Legacy.

Youths will benefit themseHarriet Tubmanlves by learning how the past has brought their benefits of today.For example, if a youth learned that someone risked their life to learn to read and have an equal opportunity to learn available for future generations, would they take their education more seriously? Would their parents? Could learning of the struggle and accomplishments of the past, make a difference? Our answer is YES! This is where the value of the struggle is the legacy left behind, but one cannot know what he is not taught.

Members of the AAHC believe for some youths, a difference will occur and this reinforcement, this knowledge of a positive historical identity, will benefit a youth’s self-esteem and the social betterment of the community in general.

Lend your support by becoming a sponsor or volunteer to be a committe member today!

 

 

The 2011/12 Documentary Season is Here!

 

The 2011/12 documentary season has begun. For the past four years, AAHC has had the goal of presenting a variety of documentaries with sometimes-provocative content help to bring forward community conversations of the experiences of Afro-Americans as it relates to American History.

 

Now a new component of films that bring attention to current educational struggles within the Afro-American community are included in the list of screenings.

Additionally, films that are over an hour are set for screening in a location other that the Rock Island Public Library, which also means the times of the screenings can expand to weekends and evenings.

If you have a subject or specific documentary that you would like to see that falls in line with the Mission of the AAHC, please send your suggestion to aahc@afrolegacy.org. 

 

 

Many Wonder, "Why Afro-American Heritage Center?" 

 

Our focus is to educate the community of the rich, vibrant and untaught black-African history as it pertains to the United States of America. So why Afro-American instead of African-American?

It has become politically correct to say “African American”; however, this noun applies to all black-African descendants anywhere in the Americas. In choosing the name of our organization, the goal was to be specific on whose heritage or culture was our focus.

 In the preface of Africans in the Americas, the authors note:

“Hyphenated constructions using the prefix Afro refer to people of elements specific to place, as in Afro-Brazilian, Afro-Cuban and Afro-Caribbean. Afro-American refers to African Americans within the United States or its Colonial predecessors. To avoid confusion, the adjective “U.S” identifies the separate nation and “American” the broader Americas”.

Therefore, with the United States and African Americans being our focus, it was determined that using "Afro-American" as part of our organizations name is correct and corresponds with our Mission.