The Jamaica Museum and Cultural Center Launches Campaign to Construct a Jamaican Museum in Atlanta

The first steps to erect a museum exhibiting Jamaican culture and history in Atlanta, Georgia were taken on August 24 at the APAP Media Group Studios in that city.

The Jamaica Museum and Cultural Center launched its Brick Campaign to construct a Jamaican museum, on August 24 at the APAP Media Group Studios in Stone Mountain, Georgia. From left are Val Marks, Dr. Garfield McCook, president Dr. Apollone Reid, Christine Marzouca, Dr. Laxley Stephenson, Marcia Parker, R. Kanhai Condison, Sherekah Nelson Hibbert, Dr. Carleen Hepburn, Alderine Foote and Patrick Parkins.A Bricks Campaign, organised by the Jamaican Museum and Cultural Center, was held at the venue and drew enthusiastic response.

“This was a hybrid event where persons were able to join virtually and purchase bricks which were available for US$100 and US$250. A selected number of persons who were committed to buying a $250 brick were in attendance,” Dr Apollone Reid, president of the Jamaica Museum and Cultural Center, told Caribbean Today.

Her organisation’s objective is to raise US$10 million to start construction on the facility. Once that is achieved, they expect the building to be completed in 18 months.

Reid, a physical therapist, stressed the importance of a major city like Atlanta having a museum showcasing the achievements of Jamaicans.

“It is important to have the museum in Atlanta because of the rich history of black excellence and achievements, namely Marcus Garvey's legacy,” she said.

Garvey, Jamaica’s first National Hero, made his mark in Atlanta. He gave his first public lecture there in March, 1917 at Big Bethel AME Church. Garvey, who died in London in June, 1940 at age 52, also served a two-year prison sentence for mail fraud at Atlanta Federal Penitentiary, starting in 1925.

Reid says the next step for the Jamaica Museum and Cultural Center will be outreach initiatives to help secure funding for the project. The organization’s website is bricksrus.com/donorsite/jmccatl.