Odell S. Williams Now And Then African-American Museum facts for kids
The Odell S. Williams Now And Then African-American History Museum is a special place in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. It's also known as the Baton Rouge African-American Museum. This museum is a non-profit organization dedicated to sharing the rich history and heritage of African Americans. It's named after Odell S. Williams, who was an important educator in Baton Rouge.
Sadie Roberts-Joseph founded the museum in 2001. It's the only museum in Baton Rouge focused on African and African American history. The museum celebrates important events like Juneteenth and Black History Month all year long.
The Museum's Story
Sadie Roberts-Joseph was the founder and curator of this museum. She created it because she saw how important it was for the community to have a place to learn about African American history. She often told visitors, "Culture is the glue that holds a people together. Take a step back in time and leap into your future." This shows how much she believed in the power of history.
Sadie Roberts-Joseph managed the museum by herself from when it started until she passed away in 2019. After her death, her son Jason and his sister took over running the museum. The museum had to close for a short time because of COVID-19. But it reopened in time for Juneteenth in 2020. The museum does not get money from the government to help it run.