Northeast Community College to host Black History Museum exhibit

The exhibit, founded in 2010 by Fred J. Saffold III, was established to preserve Black history and to “educate others on the many contributions African-Americans have made to humanity.” It features an extraordinary collection of rare and authentic artifacts, dating from the late 1700s to the 21st century. 

The Collection takes participants on a journey with the artifacts through the African American experience. Artifacts range from many great civilizations in Africa, through the Mid Atlantic slave trade, slavery, the Civil War, Reconstruction, Jim Crow, the Civil Rights / Black Power movement, through the modern-day. The Collection celebrates and highlights the contributions of African Americans in the arts, sciences, sports, entertainment, education, and politics.  

The current exhibit, “A Tribute to the African-American Journey,” features over 150 artifacts and includes original documents from historic figures such Martin Luther King Jr., Mary McLeod Bethune, Booker T. Washington, Rosa Parks, George Washington Carver, Angela Davis, President Barack Obama, and many other great African-Americans.   

The exhibition, co-sponsored by Northeast Community College’s IDEA (Inclusivity, Diversity and Equity Alliance) team, Student Activities, and the Norfolk Area Diversity Council, is free and open to the public. The Feb. 1 event will kick off Northeast’s celebration of Black History Month.