Voices of History, Stories from Pennsylvanians

Celebrating Voices of History

Voices of History Stories from Black Pennsylvanians is a first-of-its-kind statewide effort to collect and celebrate the stories, family histories, struggles, and triumphs of Black Pennsylvanians in the 20th and 21st centuries. So far, PA Humanities has collected stories in Pittsburgh and Erie – and is headed to Scranton next!

NEXT SCREENING: ERIE, PA!

In partnership with Erie’s Black Wall Street, PA Humanities welcomed local historians, arts educators, and the Erie community at large to share their story of being Black in Pennsylvania through public story circles.

Watch the recorded stories from Pittsburgh now!

Do you have a story to share?

Stay tuned for Voices of History Scranton!

Share with us about a special memory, personal experience, or a cherished keepsake that captures the spirit of your family’s journey.

Voices of History Stories

Dr. Ervin Dyer

Janis Burley

Damon Young

Elayne Arrington

Previous
Next

Join the movement to raise up the stories of the Black experience in Pennsylvania.

Your support will help us bring this project to communities across Pennsylvania! We launched our 50th anniversary Voices of History initiative on May 30 at the August Wilson African American Cultural Center in Pittsburgh with a conversation with Isabel Wilkerson, winner of the Pulitzer Prize and the National Humanities Medal. She was a dynamic presence and spoke on the importance of stories that shape the Black American experience.

Our 50th anniversary Voices of History initiative kicked off on May 30 at the August Wilson African American Cultural Center in Pittsburgh with a conversation with Isabel Wilkerson, winner of the Pulitzer Prize and the National Humanities Medal. She was a dynamic presence and spoke on the importance of stories that shape the Black American experience.

With your contribution, we will partner with local community organizations, scholars, journalists and performers and provide venues and recording equipment to ensure that people who want to share their stories are heard. To bring these multi-day events to a city near you costs $75,000 or more, plus great ideas and stories. Just as multiple individual stories can tell a bigger story of social change, so too can your financial contribution join others to make this project a reality. We’d also love to hear your ideas and story suggestions.

Funders & Partners

Do you have a story to share?

Stay tuned for Voices of History Scranton!

Share with us about a special memory, personal experience, or a cherished keepsake that captures the spirit of your family’s journey.