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But agrant from the [138]National Trust for Historic Preservation will helpmaintain27 historic sites thatshowcaseAfrican Americanperseverance,activismand contributions to the nation. The trust's [139]African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund has awarded $1.6 million in grants to keep these historic spaces from disappearing from the American landscape. This Jan. 29, 2019, photo shows homes in Africatown in Mobile, Alabama, established by the last boatload of Africans abducted into slavery and shipped to the United States. This Jan. 29, 2019, photo shows homes in Africatown in Mobile, Alabama, established by the last boatload of Africans abducted into slavery and shipped to the United States. "These 27 sites represent examples of Black resilience, activism and excellence. And as a collection, they begin to elevate the historic landscapes and buildings that tell an underrecognized and unappreciated story about the United States," says Brent Leggs, executive director of the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund. Over the past two years, 65 historic African Americansitesreceived more than $4.3 million to help preserve and restore places thatexemplifyBlack life and cultural heritage. Grant recipient "While We Are Still Here" seeks to preserve Harlem history, including buildings that housed a cross section of Black America. (Courtesy While We Are Still Here) Grant recipient "While We Are Still Here" seeks to preserve Harlem history, including buildings that housed a cross section of Black America. (Courtesy While We Are Still Here) [140]This year's sites include Africatown in Mobile, Alabama, which was founded by descendants of theClotilda, the last slave ship to come to the United States in 1860;theTenth Street Historic Districtin Dallas, Texas, one of the few remaining Freedmen's Towns, which were established by newly freed AfricanAmericans after the Civil War; and the "While We Are Still Here" project in New York's Harlem, the most famous African American neighborhood thatisquickly becoming gentrified. [141]The list also includesplacesthat celebrate the contributions of legendary African Americans such as blues performer Muddy Waters; actor,activistand humanitarian Paul Robeson;and inventor Lewis Latimer, who improved electric lighting and drafted the patent for the telephone. "Black experiences are often stereotypically defined through the lens of slavery," Leggs says. "But part of our work is to help expand the American story... that we are not telling it just from the places of bondage and of terrorism and extreme violence. But it is about highlighting the resiliency and the protests and the ability to weather 250-plus years of structural racism.'¦I hope the nation begins to celebrate African Americans,because we have had the undue burden of shifting national consciousness and trying to hold center the moral compass of this nation." Educator Booker T. Washington and Sears Roebuck president Julius Rosenwald built schools like grant recipient May's Lick in Maysville, Kentucky, in the early 1900s for African American students in the South. (Courtesy Mays Lick Community Development Board) Educator Booker T. Washington and Sears Roebuck president Julius Rosenwald built schools like grant recipient May's Lick in Maysville, Kentucky, in the early 1900s for Black students in the South. (Mays Lick Community Development Board) The recent Black Lives Matter protests have helped shine a light on the need to restore historic Black spaces. Leggs says the Action Fund has received more online donations,and he is hopeful that current talks with corporations and others will result in large gifts to help extend the Action Fund's reach and impact. "To be able to preserve these kinds of places help our nation learn more about the complexity and breadth of its own history," Leggs says. "There's power in truth,and preservation begins to reveal more of the truth." Related Stories West Africans were barbecuing meat before the transatlantic slave trade brought the cooking method to North America. West Africans were barbecuing meat before the transatlantic slave trade brought the cooking method to North America. [142]All About America [143]How Enslaved Africans Helped Invent American Cuisine You can thank enslaved Africans for one of America's most iconic drinks: Coca-Cola."The base ingredient in Coca-Cola is the kola nut that's indigenous to Africa," says Frederick Opie, professor of history and foodways at Babson College inWellesley, Massachusetts, and the author of several books, including "Hog and Hominy: Soul Food from Africa to America."Since the 17th century, when Africans were forced into slavery in the New World, they and their'¦ Dora Mekouar By [144]Dora Mekouar Wed, 03/06/2019 - 08:02 FILE - In an undated file photo, Ruth Parrington, librarian in the art department of the Chicago Public Library, studies early Sears Roebuck catalogs in the library's collection in Chicago. FILE - In an undated file photo, Ruth Parrington, librarian in the art department of the Chicago Public Library, studies early Sears Roebuck catalogs in the library's collection in Chicago. [145]All About America [146]How Sears Catalog Fought White Supremacists By the late 19th century, slavery was over, but the American South was still rife with discrimination and in justice Dora Mekouar By [147]Dora Mekouar Thu, 10/03/2019 - 14:45 Dora Mekouar By [148]Dora Mekouar [149]Twitter (Submit) (Submit) (Submit) (Submit) (Submit) [150]Twitter [151]Instagram [152]Facebook [153]YouTube [154]RSS Search VOA News ____________________ (Submit) Search * [155]United States [156]US Politics + [157]Immigration + [158]All About America + [159]Silicon Valley and Technology * World News [160]Africa + [161]The Americas + [162]East Asia Pacific + [163]Europe + [164]Middle East + [165]South & Central Asia * Sections [166]Arts & Culture + [167]Day in Photos + [168]Economy & Business + [169]Extremism Watch + [170]Press Freedom + [171]Science & Health + [172]VOA StudentU + [173]VOA Connect + [174]Refugees * Voice of America [175]About VOA + [176]Contact VOA + [177]Terms of Use and Privacy Notice + 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