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Feature
Saunders Library To Host ‘Live Stream’ Opening Of National Museum Of African American History And Culture On Saturday
BY KENYA WOODARD Sentinel Feature Writer
TAMPA – Saturday’s (Sep- tember 24th ) opening of the Smithsonian National Mu- seum of African American His- tory and Culture in Washington, D. C., comes at a time when “new wave of racism” is permeating the country, said U. S. Rep. Kathy Castor, D-Tampa at Saunders Library on Monday.
The Museum is opening five years after the dedication of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial and as the second term of President Barack
Obama winds down “is sym- bolic”, Castor said.
An increase in racial ten- sions makes the museum’s ex- istence “really important,” she said.
“The racism highlights the importance to educate every- one to make sure that they un- derstand...we have more in common than what tears us apart,” she said. “It’s not ac- ceptable to condemn your neighbor because they are dif- ferent from you.”
The Museum, devoted ex- clusively to the documentation of African American life, his- tory, and culture, is the 19th
Dr. Samuel L. Wright, Sr., a former director of mul- ticultural affairs at the Univer- sity of South Florida, “graciously accepted” the con- gresswoman’s invitation to be her guest at the opening.
In a separate interview, Dr. Wright – who is the founder of Tampa’s annual Tampa Bay Black Heritage Festival – said it’s his hope that the Museum helps all Americans understand and ap- preciate the contributions of African-Americans to the country’s development.
Children, especially, need to learn about the trials and struggles African-Americans
have endured, he said.
“We’ve had to endure a lot
and young people need to know that,” he said.
Watch Museum
Opening at the Library
The Robert W. Saunders Library will host a live stream- ing of the historic opening of the National Museum of African American History and Culture beginning at 10 a. m. at 1505 Nebraska Ave., in Tampa (33605).
This program is presented in partnership with the Associ- ation for the Study of African American Life and History.
African American History Museum
Whip used to punish slaves on display.
member of the Smithsonian Institution. Its goal is to help the world understand Ameri- can history through the lens of the African American experi- ence.
The national treasure opens this weekend after decades of effort by elected of- ficials, community leaders, and citizens. Formally estab- lished in 2003 by Congress, the Museum holds more than 36,000 artifacts.
It took four years and an estimated $540 million to con- struct the nearly 400,000 square foot, 10-story building.
Displays
Property Taxes To Increase To Improve Drainage
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
Last week, City Council mem- bers voted 5-2 to approve two new assessment taxes. Both will go into effect at the end of the year. Councilman Frank Reddick and Councilman Charlie Mi- randa voted against the taxes.
The first Assessment Tax is for maintenance of retention ponds, sewage lines and drainage. It will cost property owners $86 per year, City Councilman Reddick said.
FRANK REDDICK City Councilman
The second Assessment Tax will be earmarked for stormwater. It will begin at $45 per year and increase to $89 over a 5-year pe- riod.
Councilman Reddick said, “The Stormwater Assessment Tax will primarily benefit the people in South Tampa, but everyone in the city will have to pay for it.
“It does include a couple of areas in East Tampa, but the ma- jority of it is for South Tampa and that’s why I voted against it.”
He further said residents 65 years of age and older can apply for a hardship if the additional taxes are going to be a financial bur- den.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2016 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY PAGE 3-A