The National Park Service announced more than $14 million in African American Civil Rights Historic Preservation Fund grants to fund 51 projects across 20 states and the District of Columbia that will preserve sites and history related to the African American struggle for equality in the 20th century. Several of these projects will involve the restoration of buildings on the campuses of historically Black colleges and universities. Other grants will fund projects at HBCUs aimed at preserving the history of the civil rights movement. Here are the projects at HBCUs:
* Talladega College, interior restoration of Foster Hall, $500,000
* Stillman College, planning for the restoration of Sheppard Library, $50,000
* Spelman College, funding the oral histories of the civil rights movement at the college, $50,000
* Morris Brown College, restoration of Fountain Hall, $500,000
* Johnson C. Smith University, history of Black urbanism in Charlotte, $35,000
* Livingstone College, preservation of the Monroe Street School, $500,000
* Allen University, for a project on John Henry McCray and the role of the Black press in the civil rights movement, $43,897
* Benedict College, Starks Center rehabilitation project, $500,000
“The preservation of these projects is an invaluable investment in the campuses, communities, and individuals they serve,” said South Carolina Congressman Jim Clyburn. “I am pleased that these funds will continue to allow our communities to learn from the Civil Rights Movement and the important role that South Carolina played in making America’s greatness apply more fairly and equitably to all of its citizens.”
I see that Morris Brown College is getting money to restore Fountain (Stone) Hall. Directly across the street from Fountain is another historic 19th century building, Gaines Hall, that is literally falling down. Perhaps the money can be given to repair that structure as well.
As an AUC product (Clark Atlanta University) I would like to Morris Brown once again be the thriving campus that it was when I was in school.