The Freedom Chronicle
by MARY NORTHINGTON
The Northern Kentucky African American Heritage Task Force is a group of people who have the desire to work together to bring about better community through gaining the knowledge and understanding that all people travel the road of history together. The Task Force is a 13- county regional organization whose purpose is to motivate and inspire everyone to work toward the discovery and appreciation of the varied roles of persons of color in the history of the Commonwealth.
The organization had its beginnings
during the early 1990's when the Kentucky Heritage Council held its 7th statewide
biennial conference in Northern Kentucky. Two African Americans, myself
and a companion, who were new to the community, happened upon a planning
meeting for the conference. Joining the activity, they learned
that with the
exception of a local resident history buff, Theodore (Ted) Harris, who was
scheduled to present at the conference, there was no other African American
presence. We contacted him and thus began a series of events.
During the conference, we drew attention to the fact of overlooked African American history in Northern Kentucky and managed to have an African American historic site, Lincoln Grant School, belatedly included in a conference tour. Shortly thereafter, the Heritage Council convened meetings of African Americans from across the state to discuss this lack of inclusion and what could be done about it. The group of about 60 persons who attended became known as the Kentucky African American Heritage Task Force.
Members from Northern Kentucky who attended immediately organized a Northern
Kentucky group and adopted the name "History Group." The History
Group, assuming an identification with the state organization, changed
its name to Northern Kentucky African American Heritage Task Force and
became an eight-county organization. Eventually, however, the state
group evolved into the Kentucky African American Heritage Commission and
the NKAAHTF expanded to 13 counties.
An all-volunteer organization, the Task Force has grown to a membership of approximately
80 to 100 households and organizations who support the group financially
through dues and contributions. Also, there are uncounted journeymen
and friends. Activities include information meetings, programs and
special projects which occur throughout the region, and publication of a
quarterly newsletter. Cooperative relationships are maintained with
other history groups throughout the 13 counties. Funding agencies and businesses
provide support by underwriting many of the efforts through grants and contributions.
As a result, the Task Force has been able to contribute to a number of community-
and state-based efforts. Among them are Tall Stacks, numerous other festivals,
heritage tourism, conferences, workshops, and exhibits. Perhaps its most
ambitious programs have been the presentation of the world-famous Wings
Over Jordan Memorial Chorus at
the Covington Convention Center and a month-long series of activities relating
to the history of African Americans in Thoroughbred Racing. A unique
project was a children's urban archeological dig funded by the Commission
and done in collaboration with the Jane Roberta Summers Foundation and the
Covington Independent School District.
Current projects include one designed to discover and map African American
burial places throughout the 13 counties (partly funded by the Kentucky
African American Heritage Commission); development of an African
American history booklet (partly funded by the Mayerson Student Philanthropy
Project at NKU); and, based on the writings of Jim Reis, an incorporating member
of the Task Force, whose column, “Pieces
of the Past,” appears weekly in the Kentucky Post; compilation
of collected oral histories into a booklet; and collaboration on projects
with Media Working Group, Preservation Kentucky, and the Covington Independent
School District.
The Task Force has regularly sponsored Kentucky Humanities Council Chautauqua
presentations, which incorporate the roles of African Americans into the
history of the Commonwealth. Scheduled for March 23, 2002, Hasan Davis
will portray York, the African American who explored with Meriwether Lewis
and George Rogers Clark.
Also noteworthy are the significant contributions that have been made by
the Task Force towards the preservation and recognition of African American
historic landmarks. Currently underway is planning for the restoration
of Ninth Street United Methodist Church in Covington. Through the efforts
of Task Force members, a planning grant was
recently awarded to the church by the Kentucky Heritage Council.
Currently, the organization is getting settled at its new location, First
United Methodist Church in Covington, Kentucky. Many thanks to all
who have supported and to those who continue to support Task Force efforts. We
can be reached at our same number, (859) 431-5502, and look forward to
hearing from you.
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