In Honor Of Black History Month, Entrepreneur Assembles Memorable Black History Collection For Educational Purposes

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Our goal is to share educational good will by establishing Black History galleries throughout the world. The Freeman Institute Black History Collection and Dr. Joel A. Freeman's collaboration are available for media interviews and speaking engagements at African American History events. A great human interest story.

Joel Freeman Showing Les Brown Black History Collection Pieces

African American History is too rich for just one month

Over the past decade, Joel Freeman has combined his entrepreneurial skills and love for history to develop The Freeman Institute® Black History Collection. The collection is currently comprised of over 3,000 authentic documents and artifacts (oldest piece dated 1553) that communicate a story of creativity, inventiveness and perseverance.

When Freeman makes Black History Month presentations at government agencies, corporations, educational institutions and faith-based organizations he generally brings 20-30 pieces from his collection to form a small portable exhibit for each event. Raised in a small Canadian town, Freeman also showcases some of the more compelling pieces when interviewed by the media about his passion for African American History.

Joel Freeman has a dream -- to help establish Black History galleries (minimum 2,000 sq.ft.) in major cities across America. "African American History is too rich for just one month," he states. "I want each of these galleries to educate and inspire young people of all ages, all year round." The strategic business plan and economic viability study are complete and he is now ready to launch the vision in 2010 - http://www.BlackHistoryTreasures.com

"When studying Black History, both Afrocentrism and Eurocentrism provide excellent documentation to support their respective views. But the more one researches, the more one realizes that both disciplines also have some pretty crazy/fringe stuff that isn't corroborated by original sources. I'd rather use the term: Truthcentric, hopefully providing more light than heat," states Dr. Joel A. Freeman. A message that transcends race.

Some examples from Freeman's extensive collection:

1) The authentic Samuel Goldwyn Productions check paid to Pearl Bailey (and signed by her) for her part in the movie, Porgy and Bess.

2) A 4-page letter hand-written and signed by the famous British abolitionist, William Wilberforce.

3) A 1553 Peruvian document hand-written in Old Spanish discussing the sale of Cristobal, a slave from Mozambique.

4) Bob "Showboat" Hall's official Harlem Globetrotter travel bag.

5) Authentic 50-pound slave ball from the Henrietta Marie, the oldest recorded slave ship wreck in the world (summer, 1700).

6) The acetate 78 rpm test pressing of Louis Armstrong's first recorded vocal performance in 1926 -- Georgia Grind.

7) Nine original bottles of Madam C.J. Walker's perfume (Carnation, Gardenia and Wisteria).

8) Original program (ca.1867) of Blind Tom’s piano performances in London and Paris.

9) and much more...

As the author of the DVD presentation, A White Man's Journey Into Black History," Freeman states, "Each gallery will also have a wall dedicated to some of the White abolitionists who sacrificed their lives for the anti-slavery cause."

Joel co-created (with Don Griffin), the award-winning film, Return To Glory: The Powerful Stirring of the Black Man, which has been subtitled in English, French, Portuguese and Spanish. The objective is to show the 45-minute film in every gallery -- every hour on the hour -- in the language specific to each region.

Dr. Freeman is available to talk with any organization interested in establishing a Black History gallery as an outreach to their local community.

DR. JOEL A. FREEMAN
As the veteran mentor/chaplain for the NBA Washington Bullets/Wizards for 19 years ('79-'98), award-winning film maker, serial entrepreneur, and prolific author, Dr. Freeman has been working on this project for over fifteen years. Freeman is available to make highly visual, educational and inspirational Black History presentations and also unique presentations about the historical & contemporary significance of the famous Rosetta stone.

BIO: Joel A. Freeman

MEDIA CONTACT:
Joel A. Freeman, Ph.D., Box 305, Gambrills, MD 21054
Office: 410-729-4011
Fax: 410-729-0353

Websites:
The Freedom Institute Foundation
Rosetta Stone Replicas

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Peter Paul Rubens(Flemish, 1577-1640), diplomat, linguist, scholar. Much sought-after painter during 17th Century. The original Study of Negroes (Etude de Negres) is in the Royal Fine Arts Museum of Belgium, Brussels. This etching (1883) was produced in very low numbers by J. Rouam and Remington Company. Etching done by Edm. RamusToussaint L’Overture (1743-1803), Black revolutionary -- Liberator of the Haitian Slaves. The struggle which Toussaint waged for freedom lasted 12 years. He defeated the local whites, the soldiers of France, a Spanish invasion, a British force of 60,000 men, and a similar size sent once again by the French. The revolt led by L’Ouverture is the only successful slave revolt in history. Between the years 1789 to 1815 there was no other singular figure who appeared on the historical stage with such talent than the man who was a slave until he was 45 years old. Toussaint died on April 6, 1803. His body might have been destroyed, but his work lived oPhillis Wheatley (c.1754-1784), born in Africa, was enslaved and brought to America in 1761. Tutored by the Wheatley family (Boston), Phillis was soon able to read the Bible and Latin, Greek and English classics. Against all odds, her first poem was published in 1767 and her book, Poems On Various Subjects was released in 1773. Wheatley achieved international renown, traveling to London and being called upon by noted social and political figures of the day – including George Washington. A hero in her own right. Image on front is from the rare 1838 edition of her book, which includes poems of the North Carolina slave George Moses Horton.Full Size, 3-D replica of the famous Rosetta Stone