CLEVELAND — Four pillars near the entrance of the Cleveland History Center now display various items highlighting Cleveland Black History.
They cover boxing phenom turned musician and inventor Paul Simpson, The Karamu House, and a black Republican couple who lead the fight against the formation of the first Cleveland KKK chapter.
Eric Rivet, Chief Curator of the Western Reserve Historical Society, says it has been collecting items significant and relevant to Black History Month for decades and is proud to have them on display right now:
"It’s an opportunity to see things that are not on display every day. We have to be very careful about the objects themselves. Our job is to make sure these things outlive us. We can’t display everything all the time. After this month some items will go back into storage so take your chance while you have it."
Historian Regennia Williams says it’s important to showcase black contributions to the shaping of Cleveland’s history.
"Blacks have been here since the beginning. When Moses Cleaveland came there were black people in this part of the world, and natives as well. History continued to be enriched for more than 200 years now and the population has only grown larger."
The Cleveland History Center is also hosting a unique event with the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and the R&B Hall of Fame Museums that will let you experience the first interracial club in Cleveland that was called Leo’s Casino Nightclub. A space will transform to take you back in time using pictures, video, music, food and more.
To learn more about the event, click here.