Our Cultural Legacy

Celebrate Black American Heritage

Our Story — How this vision began

This vision grew out of my advocacy with the Merced Black Parallel School Board. We kept asking for Black representation within the school districts. When we advocated and finally were able to get a community liaison position established, I noticed that other cultures were able to get the type of person they wanted in the schools because they are able to use language — Spanish speaking or Hmong speaking — which usually gets them a Hispanic or Hmong person. Black Americans, we don't have a language, and under California state law they couldn't specifically ask for a Black person to fill that position. They also can't specifically ask for Black teachers to fill these positions within schools so that our kids have Black representation within the school district. So my view is creating a space where children can see Black greatness, Black artists, and Black authors, and preserve the Black American culture of Merced — a hub where that is preserved, a place where our children can go, learn and see Black excellence and learn about Black American culture here in Merced, and a place where people who are not from Merced can learn about Black American culture and the Black greatness of Merced.

— Richale Babbs, Founder