Sunday! African American Pioneer Women Book Launch
In celebration of the March Women’s History Month, the Kunta Kinte-Alex Haley Foundation, Inc. is highlighting local African American Female Pioneers with the release of a book: Celebrating African American Female Pioneers, at a reception Sunday, March 26, 2023, at the Michael E. Busch branch of the Anne Arundel County Public Library at 1410 West St. Annapolis, Maryland. Doors open at 1:30 and the formal program will begin at 2:00 followed by a reception to meet and talk to some of the 34 women honored in the book. Books will be available for purchase and signing. The event will feature the Honorable Adrienne Jones, the first female and the first African American Speaker of the House of Delegates for the State of Maryland.
In 2021, the Kunta Kinte-Alex Haley Foundation, Inc. began researching and highlighting local African American Female Pioneers in Anne Arundel County Maryland. These pioneers represent women who were the first to attain a significant accomplishment in a specific area of endeavor. These achievements have left an enduring mark on our communities, paving the way for others to follow, women and men alike. Throughout history women, particularly Black women, have overcome insurmountable odds to achieve their goals. Generally, Black women have been the last to be given opportunities. Last behind men, and last behind women of other ethnic backgrounds.
Commencing in 2021, the Kunta Kinte-Alex Haley Foundation, Inc. undertook an ongoing research effort to identify and lift up the many African American female pioneers in the local area of Annapolis and Anne County, Maryland. The Foundation began unveiling its research on these African American women who were the first to attain significant accomplishments in their areas of endeavor on the Foundation’s website at kintehaley.org. The publication of this book provides a permanent record of the contributions made by these formidable African American women.
The Foundation is seeking more African American female “firsts” within the local area who should be included in subsequent research efforts. Please add your recommendations for further research by contacting the Foundation at [email protected].
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The Kunta Kinte-Alex Haley Foundation Inc. is best known for its work in envisioning, funding, and creating the Alex Haley Memorial located at the City Dock in Annapolis. This Memorial, the largest and most visited public art installation and memorial in Anne Arundel Maryland County, is visited by hundreds of thousands of people each year.
The Kunta Kinte-Alex Haley Foundation, Inc. has as its mission the creation of a world that celebrates ethnic diversity while honoring humankind’s common, universal experiences. Since its founding in 1992, the goal of the Foundation has been to sponsor educational and historical programs, public forums, training, and genealogy research to stimulate a greater interest in African American history and culture and to encourage people of all racial and ethnic backgrounds to take pride in their own “roots.”
As a small organization, based in Annapolis Maryland, the Foundation is primarily able to accomplish its activities through the efforts of volunteers, partnerships, and grant support. These varied efforts have enabled the Foundation to develop and leverage resources within the community that enable the achievement of its mission, while continuing to provide a wide range of educational and heritage-based services to the community.
Throughout the years, the Foundation has engaged in educational, cultural, and historical programs. Among other programs, it operates a genealogy and reference Resource Center, holds an annual Kunta Kinte Commemoration Ceremony at the City Dock, and ensures the ongoing maintenance of the Alex Haley Memorial.
For more information about the March 26 celebratory event contact the project lead, Patsy Baker Blackshear at [email protected] or the Foundation’s librarian/genealogist Carol Carman at [email protected].
To volunteer with the Foundation please send an email to [email protected] or telephone 410.295.9395