Since the Berea Black History and Heritage Exhibit opened last month at the Berea Arts Council’s gallery more than 350 people have come through to see the display. That’s according to Arts Council Executive Director, Kiana Mahjub. She said the humanities exhibit showcases the rich history, heritage, and culture of African American families from Berea and nearby communities including Farristown, Bobtown, and Middletown.
"Rather than your typical paintings or photographs we are featuring historic pieces that have been in the families of the Berea Black community for years and years and passed down. So,we're featuring photographs of family members that go back almost a hundred years. We're featuring quilts that have been passed down,tools that have been passed down,a wide range of items," said Mahjub.
The Berea Arts Council partnered with the non-profit Our Land of Promise, an organization with a mission to preserve African American heritage in Berea, Kentucky. Aaron Banther is the founder and executive director of the non-profit. Banther helped collect many of the artifacts displayed in this exhibit.
“It gives us a chance to really showcase the hidden stories of African Americans here in Berea,” said Banther.
Kiana Mahjub and Aaron Banther agree that the project materialized to help Berea diversify what it’s offering and talk more about Berea’s Black communities which are a big part of Berea’s history.
In his opinion, Banther said many of the original African American communities in the area have been forgotten.
“ A lot of people don’t know about the Black settlements we have here in Berea. A lot of that is due to the great migration that happened in the 40s,50s, and 60s when African Americans couldn’t really get jobs here in the community. Only thing we had was farming jobs. So, we had to move to midwestern cities, you know Detroit, Indianapolis, Ohio just to get opportunities. Over time a lot our culture ,our heritage has either passed or moved away. So, I think Berea has lost its original identity," explained Banther.
The 46-year-old Banther stands at the front of the gallery near a multi-colored quilt made years ago by his late grandmother Pauline Banther. While the quilt is one of his favorite items being shown, he said there are numerous sections and themes that tell a story.
“You have the Civil War theme right where we’re standing. I see pictures of Frederick Watts over there,who was a slave and he fought in the Civil War. And then you have the military theme right here and then you have the school, which is the Middletown school over there. You also have the church theme which is as you come through the door,” said Banther.
Retired Professor and Berea Arts Council volunteer, Kathy Williams said she’s especially interested in the old-time photographs in the exhibit. Williams calls the exhibit a nice walk-through time as she stands by a timeline created for the exhibit.
“So the timeline talks about when the first African American communities came to Berea and it goes up to the 2000s. It covers things like settlement, people who were the first in their area. For example here we have the first African American fire fighter. We have different information of that sort on the timeline,” said Williams.
Among those in attendance were people from Lexington, Berea, Richmond, Danville and Cincinnati. As attendees take their seats, Arts Council Director Mahjub introduces a well-known former Kentucky Poet Laureate.
" Let’s give a round of applause for Mr Frank X Walker," said Mahjub.
Walker reads from his latest collection called Load In Nine Times.
"Six months after so-called Emancipation ….”
Walker calls every picture in the Berea Black History and Heritage Exhibit a poem. He talks about the relationship of his new book to the exhibit.
“I love how the family stories do the same thing the book does. It says definitively in images and words that our history is as old as Kentucky. And I think that’s the story that is often undertold,” said Walker.
The Berea Black History and Heritage Exhibit contains nearly 100 artifacts plus numerous photographs. November 1st is the last day to view the exhibit at the Berea Arts Council Gallery.
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