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While many proponents of African American landmarks across the country struggle to protect and preserve history, 40 national sites, including the Houston Freedmen’s Town Conservancy in Fourth Ward and the descendants of Olivewood Cemetery near White Oak Bayou, are receiving much-needed funding .
The African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund, a program run by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, announced Thursday that it has allocated $ 3 million to support African American attractions nationwide.
Freedmen’s Town Conservancy received $ 140,000 to be used towards hiring staff.
Freedmen’s Town was one of the wealthiest black communities in the country, settled by former enslaved families. Last month the city council decided to make it an official heritage district.
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In addition, the descendants of Olivewood Cemetery, the city’s first registered African-American cemetery, are receiving $ 50,000 to help fix recurrent flooding and erosion from the runoff of commercial development that has destroyed many burial sites.
“The 40 organizations we support reflect the resilience of African Americans,” said Brent Leggs, executive director of the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund in Washington, DC. “African American historical sites are underfunded and undervalued. I am optimistic about the collective awe and respect our nation has for our history. “
Founded in 2017, the largest African American landmark preservation fund in US history, the fund doubled its grants from last year of providing $ 1.6 million nationwide. This year, 519 proposals were received for a total of $ 53 million.
Huston-Tillotson University in Austin also received a grant to replace the aging windows in the administration building. The university, a historically black college, was founded in 1914.
joy.sewing@chron.com
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