‘Sankofa African-American Museum on Wheels’ to Visit UA

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Angela Jennings’ mission to teach her nephew black history and culture started 20 years ago. She’s traveled the country, from coast to coast, collecting and displaying artifacts dating back as far as 1860.

While her nephew has since grown into a man, Jennings’ collection and efforts to enlighten Americans to the depth of black history and culture continues.

Jennings, a Brooklyn, New York native, continues to make more than 200 stops around the country each year.

Monday, March 23, she will make her first stop at The University of Alabama.

Jennings will hold a colloquium, “Sankofa African-American Museum on Wheels” in room 104 of Little Hall. The colloquium will include displays of artifacts that originated in 1860s Africa, slavery in the United States and the Civil Rights Movement.

This event is sponsored by the School of Social Work and the Black Faculty and Staff Association of The University of Alabama. There will be a campus and community reception for Jennings from 4-6 p.m. in Little Hall.

“The lynchings tend to garner a lot of attention, probably because of the shock of it,” Jennings said. “But the inventions, those usually catch people’s attention and keep their attention. There’s just so much to read about. So many ‘oh, I didn’t know that’ moments.”

Jennings will have a letter detailing the jailing of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in Birmingham and will examine King’s response if it had been done in 140 character tweets.

“It’ll be an interesting discussion,” she said.