In July 1989, Supervisor Willie B. Kennedy
forwarded a resolution to the Board of Supervisors that urged
the Mayor of the City and County of San Francisco to consider
the sale or long-term lease of the Western Addition Cultural
Center to better reflect the yearnings of the community in terms
of programming, management and operations. The resolution was
passed unanimously.
As a result of the vision of Supervisor Kennedy and the African
American community in wanting a true African American Cultural
Center, not only for today, but for generations to come. Ms.
Geraldine Johnson helped shape the preliminary draft legislation
and community involvement began in earnest to forge a new entity.
The community decided to look for leadership from the Wajumbe
Cultural Institution, Inc. and the San Francisco African American
Historical Society - two of the oldest African American Cultural
organizations in San Francisco with a combined history of over
59 years of consistent and quality programming to the community.
A new non-profit corporation was formed in 1989 - the Center
for African and African American Art and Culture. Over the years
the name of the center has changed but its mission and values
remain the same - to provide an atmosphere for cross-cultural
relationships based on African and African American experience
and history.
Today the African American Art and Culture Complex benefits
not only the African American community of San Francisco but
the entire San Francisco Bay Area and its many visitors with
exhibitions, plays, classes, lectures, and activities. We depend
on your support and participation to make it possible to provide
a forum and context for Black family life and culture.
The
art work featured on the web site is part of the mural on the
east wall of the African American Art and Culture Complex. The
mural, entitled "A Celebration of African and African American
Artists" was created by artist Dewey Crumpler in 1993 sponsored
by the Mayor's Office of Community Development. This politic
acrylic on concrete measures 45 feet tall by 131 feet wide and
was created with the assistance of Kermit Amenophis, Bonnie
Long, and Sandra Roberts.
The mural is published in "Walls of Heritage, Walls of
Pride: African American Murals" by James Prigoff, Robin
J. Dunitz. In the book Dewey Crumpler states...
Source: Walls
of Heritage, Walls of Pride: African American Murals by James
Prigoff, Robin J. Dunitz
