Celebrating the 28th day of Ohio Black History Month, I emphasize the significance of preserving black narratives while acknowledging the importance of all stories. Modernization threatens many historical landmarks, altering familiar landscapes like Euclid Ave., now scarcely recognizable due to urban development. It's a challenge to recall its former glory, pre-dating the dominance of institutions like the Cleveland Clinic. The clinic's expansion jeopardizes the existence of cherished historical sites, underscoring the urgent need for preservation efforts.
In Athens County, home to Ohio University, similar endeavors are underway. Historically, during the mid-1800s, Athens County was the most Black populated county in Ohio. It had thriving black businesses and was pivotal in the Underground Railroad.
In 2021, recognizing the significance of the Mt. Zion Baptist Church, the National Endowment of the Arts awarded this solace place the Citizens Institute on Rural Design (CIRD) grant. This church exemplifies black resilience because free and formerly enslaved black congregants built it. The Mt. Zion Baptist Church Preservation Society is collaborating with CIRD to revitalize this historical gem and improve the community's social and economic outcomes.
In your city or state, are there sites worth preserving?
Explore the Cleveland Restoration Society's CivilRightsTrail (https://lnkd.in/ePr29sV4) and the National Trust for Historic Preservation (https://lnkd.in/eH4qhAJT.)?recommended historic sites.
?Let's honor our past to shape a more prosperous future.
