The Tennessee Black Caucus of State Legislators is announcing they have secured funding for a significant number of African-American Museums across the state. Working with Governor Bill Haslam, the Caucus is announcing $400,000 in one-time appropriations that have been approved in the Governor’s 2017-2018 budget. They are as follows:
1. The Withers Collection Museum and Gallery, Memphis $85,000
2. The Allen-White School (originally the Hardeman County Training School), Whiteville $90,000
3. The Mayme Carmichael School (originally the Oliver Springs Colored School), Oliver Springs $85,000
4. The Beck Cultural Exchange Center, Knoxville $40,000
5. The African American International Museum Foundation, Memphis $10,000
6. The Slave Haven Underground Railroad Mus-eum, Memphis $10,000
7. Pickett Chapel, Wilson County $40,000
8. The Bessie Smith Museum, Chattanooga $40,000
Additionally, the Green McAdoo Cultural Center in Clinton will receive $100,000 in recurring funds. TBCSL Chair Rep. Raumesh Akbari of Memphis thanked the Governor for his help in procuring the well-deserved funding. “The money appropriated will go a long way toward maintaining and preserving the history of a deserving people,” Rep. Akbari said. “The Tennessee Black Caucus of State Legislators is extremely proud to have helped these museums in their quest to inform the public.”
Rep. Harold Love Jr. of Nashville said, “This Legislative year’s efforts by the TN Black Caucus to secure funds for African American Museums across the state is a continuation of the success we had last year in securing 2 million dollars for the National Museum of African American Music in Nashville.”
“This commitment to the State’s African-American Museums is outstanding,” Rep. Rick Staples of Knoxville added. “I felt it was my obligation to secure funding for the Beck Cultural Exchange Center (Knoxville), Green McAdoo Cultural Center (Clinton) and Mayme Carmichael School (Oliver Springs) to ensure the rich history of East Tennessee that has shaped and enriched my life. This shows that the State of Tennessee wants to keep the story of ALL Tennesseans alive.”
