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Juanita
Moore,
Executive
Director
for the
Charles
Wright
Museum
says she
is
thrilled
to have
such an
important
historical
exhibit
on
display.
(Photo
by HB
Meeks/Tell
Us
Detroit) |
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“The
Dream
Lives!”
African
American
sports
legends
find new
home at
Charles
Wright
Museum
First-of-its-kind
collection
was
previously
displayed
in the
old
Wayne
County
Building
DETROIT
– The
Afro-American
Sports
Hall of
Fame and
Gallery
will be
preserved
for
future
generations
following
a
dedication
celebration
today at
the
Charles
H.
Wright
Museum
of
African
American
History.
In an
effort
led by
the
Wayne
County
Council
for the
Arts,
History
and
Humanities,
the
collection
was
transferred
to the
Wright
Museum
as part
of a
special,
one-day
display
– “The
Dream
Lives!”
–
commemorating
the
lives
and
legacies
of the
Hall’s
founders
and
inductees.
The
Afro-American
Sports
Hall of
Fame &
Gallery
was a
first-of-its-kind
organization
founded
in 1982
by the
late
Elmer
Anderson
and
co-founder
Art
Finney
to honor
African-American
sports
legends
and
pioneers,
such as
Joe
Louis,
Turkey
Stearnes,
and
Althea
Gibson,
as well
as
lesser
known
athletes.
The Hall
of
Fame’s
collection
was
displayed
in the
old
Wayne
County
building
until
the
County
moved in
2009 and
had been
preserved
in
storage
by the
Old
Wayne
County
Building
Limited
Partnership
and
Farbman
Group,
who
assisted
in
managing
the
building.
Mr.
Anderson’s
sister,
Sharon
Hasan,
agreed
to
donate
the
collection
to the
Wright
Museum
in 2017.
“The
Afro-American
Sports
Hall of
Fame
helped
preserve
the
stories
of so
many
African
American
sports
legends,
some of
which
might
have
been
lost
with
time,”
said
Wayne
County
Council
for the
Arts,
History
and
Humanities
President
Jocelyn
Rainey.
“When
the
Council
learned
the Hall
of
Fame’s
collection
was in
storage,
we made
it our
priority
to find
it a
suitable
home
where
these
critical
stories
from our
past
would be
accessible
for
generation
after
generation.
We owe a
big
thanks
to
Farbman
Group
and the
Wright
Museum
for
being
such
great
partners.”
With the
encouragement
and
assistance
of
Wayne County
Executive
Warren
C.
Evans,
the
Council
hosted a
special
“Celebration
of the
Afro-American
Sports
Hall of
Fame &
Gallery”
at the
Wright
Museum
tonight,
featuring
“The
Dream
Lives!”
one-day
display.
The Hall
of Fame
will now
be
located
at the
Wright
Museum
to be
preserved
and
accessible
as part
of its
object
collection.
The
Wright
Museum
is
continuing
to
catalogue
the
collection
and will
selectively
display
artifacts
as part
of
future
programming.
“These
great
athletes
blazed a
trail
for
generations
to
follow,”
said
Executive
Evans.
“Their
successes,
often in
the face
of
intolerance
and
discrimination,
teach an
important
lesson
about
equality
and the
value of
diversity.
They
left
their
unique
and
inspiring
signature
on our
history
and
offer
insights
that are
just as
relevant
today.”
In
addition
to
viewing
“The
Dream
Lives!”
display,
attendees
were
treated
to
historically
themed
programming
sponsored
by
Farbman
Group.
Emceed
by WXYZ-TV’s
Public
Affairs
Director
Chuck
Stokes,
the
event
featured
a panel
celebrating
the Hall
of Fame,
including:
former
professional
ballplayer
Ron
Teasley;
Joyce
Stearnes
Thompson,
daughter
of
Detroit
Stars
legend
Turkey
Stearnes;
and
Kevin
Lloyd,
the son
of the
NBA’s
first
African-American
player,
Earl
Lloyd.
Sharon
Hasan
also
joined
Stokes
on stage
to tell
her
brother’s
story
and
discuss
the Hall
of
Fame’s
legacy.
“The
great
Satchel
Paige
told
Elmer
‘don’t
let our
dream
die’
just as
my
brother
was
planning
the
Hall,”
said
Hasan.
“It was
always
Elmer’s
hope
that the
Hall of
Fame
could be
part of
the
Wright
Museum
and I’m
so happy
we could
make his
vision
come
true.”
The
Wayne
County
Council
for the
Arts,
History
and
Humanities
works in
cooperation
with
Wayne
County
arts and
humanities
organizations,
federal,
state
and
local
governments
to
increase
knowledge,
understanding,
appreciation
and
support
of arts
and
humanities
programs.
The goal
is to
enhance
the
quality
of life
throughout
Wayne
County
while
simultaneously
fostering
and
preserving
an
appreciation
of the
diverse
culture,
history
and art
of Wayne
County.
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