Tag: HBCU

“The Negro History Detective” and a 1929 Lincoln University Case

.Reading time 3 minutes.
Philip Merrill “The Negro History Detective” of Nanny Jack & Co stands in front of Lincoln University campus signage

I want to make you aware of a longtime interpreter of African-American history, heritage, and culture, Philip Merrill. Born in 1962 in Baltimore, Maryland The History Makers describes Merrill as a historian, writer, appraiser, and collector.

Merrill and his company’s digital programming Executive Producer, Veronica Carr, caught my attention with the content they distributed on Facebook. I was intrigued by their light-hearted, clean, direct way of teaching Black History. I would soon find that their sensory way of storytelling was due in part to the Black artifact collection that Merrill has amassed throughout his career. Again, The History Makers highlights a significant part of his illustrious career, stating:

In 1994, Merrill founded the organization Nanny Jack & Company, an archives and consulting agency specializing in creating projects that illuminate the African American experience through memorabilia, oral history and research.

Walker, B. D. (2013, August 8). Historical Researcher: Philip Merrill. Retrieved August 28, 2020, from https://www.thehistorymakers.org/taxonomy/term/42070
“Visit Black History physically and digitally” – Philip Merrill. This video clip also includes an incident quite reminiscent of the Black Lives Matter movement of today. The incident occurred in 1929 with connections to Pennsylvania HBCU, Lincoln University.

During a time of mass social justice movements due to police brutality incidents across the U.S., Merrill “the Negro History Detective” seeks, finds, and then shares the correlations and differences between what has happened in the past versus what is happening today. Today, I encourage you to check out a recent story produced by Merrill’s Nanny Jack & Co. In an October 2019 episode of Artifactual Journey Executive Producer, Veronica Carr, sits down with Merrill to discuss a 1929 incident involving Lincoln University students. Just yesterday, the two filmed and published a supplement to the October 2019 podcast episode. “Black Lives Matter (raised fist emoji) 1929” can be found on Nanny Jack and Cos An Artifactual Journey with Philip Merrill Facebook page.

Have you viewed or listened to content produced by Philip Merrill a.k.a “The Negro History Detective” of Nanny Jack & Co.? Comment and tell us what you think.

Peace -Sophia V. Nelson

Dr. James Eaton – FAMU Black Archives

.Reading time 1 minute.

Story published July 15, 1993 in the Atlanta Constitution “A Man and His Museum”

In 1971 legislation was passed in Florida that mandated the creation of a repository to “serve the state by collecting and preserving source material on and about African Americans from ancient to present times.” Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University became home to that repository.

Dr. James N. Eaton was a history professor at FAMU and embarked on the task of collecting black memorabilia and artifacts.

The pictures news article states that Eaton is standing at a podium once used by Booker T. Washington and other well known African American orators. “Eaton was cruising interstate 95 in Georgia…he was in a truck stop when he saw near the Rebel flags and ceramic Jesus statues a ‘Jolly N****r Bank’…a relic of Jim Crow times.”

The Southeastern Regional Black Archives Research Center and Museum was renamed Meek- Eaton Black Archives after Dr. James N. Eaton’s passing in 2004 🕊

[source: FAMU & Kenan Research Center]

Bill H.R. 4856 Will Bring a Statue of Shirley Chisholm to the U.S. Capitol

.Reading time less than 1 minute.

Follow Instagram: @TheMergingLanesProject

Photo Afro.com

On Jan 19 2018 Congressional Bill H.R. 4856 was introduced by Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-NY)

“The bill requires the Joint Committee on the Library to enter into an agreement to obtain a statue of Shirley Chisholm.” Currently there are no statues of past African-American members of Congress contained in the National Statuary Hall Collection. There is a statue of Rosa Parks and a statue of Mary McLeod Bethune is on its way

Today, I will sit down to interview a young lady, Florida native and the first woman to be ranked as no. 1 on HBCU Digest’s Top 30 under 30 list, about her role in seeing that H.R. 4856 was introduced.

Just Added to Cultural & Natural Resource Directory: Florida A&M Black Archives Research Center and Museum

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Via @TheMergingLanesProject

Added Florida A & M University’s Black Archives Research Center and Museum to our Cultural & Natural Resource Directory

The archive is 1 of 10 Black Archives in the U.S.

Founded in 1976 by Florida A&M History Professor, Dr. James N Eaton. It holds over 500,000 archives and over 5,000 museum artifacts.

Also known as the Meek-Eaton Archives it is dedicated to archiving regional, national and international materials pertaining to the African American experience.

[source: FAMU.EDU]