What An Exhibit Can Do

As President of Central Louisiana African American Historical Society, I have a lot of responsibilities. Since we are a newer, volunteer organization, we don't have a dedicated staff to oversee the day-to-day operations or manage the overall organization. That load falls on me and the board members. So far, we've done what we've needed to do. However, in the near future, I do hope to acquire some staff, even at the part-time level.

A current priority for us is the expansion of our community resources. We want the residents of Central Louisiana (Cenla) and beyond to be able to come to us for all things connected to the African American history and heritage of the region. It's important for us to have resources the community can use and learn from. Last year, we created a coloring book of African American pioneers from Central Louisiana. This year, with the help of a grant from the Central Louisiana Community Foundation, we are working on a traveling exhibit. This exhibit will showcase the African American experience/history of the Cenla region from the 1700s through Reconstruction. One reason this exhibit is critical is because the African American history of Cenla has been understudied and underdeveloped. There are not many resources out there that center the African American experience. So, our exhibit serves as sort of an entry point into that world. We are hoping to share the finished product with schools, libraries, and other organizations.

An exhibit can help connect the dots between the past and the present. It can bring exposure to an overlooked topic. It can integrate histories from various areas in the region into a coherent narrative that illuminates overarching themes and patterns in the history of the area. More importantly, it can bring us together to experience our shared histories.