Two Jackson State University professors will serve on the board of directors for the Association of African American Museums for the 2015-2018 term.
Dr. Rico Devara Chapman and Dr. Robert Luckett both teach in history department of the College of Liberal Arts. Chapman is an associate professor. Luckett is an assistant professor and director of the Margaret Walker Alexander National Research Center at JSU.
The Association of African American Museums (AAAM) supports the historic, innovative, and contemporary programs, exhibitions, research, and development of African-American museums and museum professionals nationwide.
Since 1978, AAAM has supported the professional advancement of African-American museums and museum professionals. Its membership base consists of more than 300 black museums nationwide and hundreds of museum professionals committed to the preservation of African-derived cultures.
“AAAM seeks to strengthen and advocate for the interests of institutions and individuals committed to the preservation of African and African-American derived cultures,” said Samuel W. Black, AAAM president.
“African American museums are longstanding institutions. Since 1868, the work of preserving the African-American experience has been maintained in cultural institutions. These institutions are relevant today and tomorrow. Museums through their exhibits, programs, education and outreach preserve, maintain and define the African-American experience in ways that no other institution can. African-American museums are born from revolution and maintain a revolutionary spirit that impacts the wider museum field,” Black said.
For more information about the Association of African American Museums, visit www.blackmuseums.org.