The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, one of the most important resources for information on African- American history is celebrating its' 90th Anniversary. If you live in New York or are visiting Harlem this is the place to introduce young people to the rich cultural heritage of people of African descent. They offer a Young Scholars program for young people and educational programs for educators.
The Center was started with the collection of Arturo Alfonso Schomburg, an Afro Puerto Rican who was challenged to start his collection when his teacher told him Africa had no history. Throughout his life he collected books, art, photographs, slavery narratives, and founded a historical society on Africa. Now one man's dream has been been a source of wealth and information for many generations. Scholars, students, writers, artists, activists have flocked to the center to be inspired and informed. As a young girl I was introduced to the center, and as a student I spent hours pouring over fascinating stories on African American culture. The Schomburg was also where I first met Langston Hughes.
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