June 17, 2020
NEW YORK, NY – The Africa Center will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony marking the installation of its new tribute to the BLACK LIVES MATTER movement on the windows of Aliko Dangote Hall facing the intersection of Museum Mile and Harlem. The 45-foot building decal, filling windows of three floors, will face 5th Avenue and 110th Street, and includes the names of Black people who have been killed by police or who have died while being detained by law enforcement. The decal also thanks workers on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has disproportionately impacted Black people across the nation.
“At The Africa Center, we understand and acknowledge the long struggle of Black Americans for full recognition of their humanity and citizenship. I and our team remain committed to having The Africa Center serve as a platform for the discussions that help us process the complexities of our experiences and the world in which we live, specifically as they relate to African people and those of African descent,” said Dr. Uzodinma Iweala, CEO of The Africa Center. “We also recognize that cultural institutions will continue to play a critical role in leading the dialogue and understanding of how our histories inform our present, and how the power to change our future lies in the actions we take right now. As a cultural institution, we fully stand with and for Black lives.”
Speakers will include political, community, and cultural leaders from across New York City, including:
- Gale Brewer, Manhattan Borough President
- Gonzalo Casals, Commissioner of the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs
- Fred “Fab 5 Freddy” Brathwaite, American visual artist, filmmaker, and hip hop pioneer
- Dana Reed, Board Member at The Africa Center
- Dr. Uzodinma Iweala, CEO of The Africa Center
A full list of speakers will be announced by Thursday, June 18.
Details are as follows:
EVENT: The Africa Center’s BLACK LIVES MATTER Tribute Unveiling on Museum Mile
DATE: Friday, June 19, 2020
TIME: 10am (Press check-in will begin at 9:30am)
WHERE: The Africa Center at Aliko Dangote Hall
1280 5th Avenue
New York, NY 10029
RSVP: Email Ayofemi Kirby at press@theafricacenter.org or call 646-494-3776.
This event is open to the media. A mult box will be available. Social distancing protocols will be observed.
The event will also be streamed live online at theafricacenter.org and on The Africa Center’s Instagram and Facebook pages.
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About The Africa Center
The Africa Center is transforming the world’s understanding of Africa, its Diaspora and the role of people of African descent in the world. Serving as the hub for the exchange of ideas around culture, business and policy as related to the continent, and in the spirit of collaboration and engagement with individuals and institutions who share the Center’s values, The Africa Center inspires enthusiasm, advances thought and action around Africa’s global influence and impact on our collective futures. The Africa Center’s physical presence on Fifth Avenue at the intersection of Harlem and the Museum Mile embodies the dynamism and diversity of Africa and its Diaspora in the heart of New York City. Learn more by visiting http://www.theafricacenter.org.