Menu
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!
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.
Share with us about a special memory, personal experience, or a cherished keepsake that captures the spirit of your family’s journey.
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.
People from Pittsburgh’s Hill District, Homewood and East Liberty neighborhoods who’d gathered for one of PA Humanities’ three Voices of History story circles spoke of vibrant neighborhoods, first jobs, home ownership, entrepreneurship, and breaking racial barriers.
2023-2024 marks 50 years of bringing Pennsylvanians together to make meaningful change through the humanities. Learn more about what exciting programs and opportunities are ahead -- and how you can support us!
At one time, Kyra Taylor said, Black-owned businesses were plentiful and thriving in Erie. But times changed, and many of those businesses have been bulldozed and paved over, leaving no physical remnants of what once was.
Live Lunch Convos" is a dynamic series created by Erie's Black Wall Street designed to connect people with information, resources, and opportunities that foster personal and professional growth. Each session brings viewers face-to-face with industry experts, thought leaders, and innovators who share their insights and experiences.