[Many thanks to Peter Jordens for these links on Afro-Puerto Rican scholar Arturo Alfonso Schomburg (1874-1938).] Earlier this month, Shanice Davis, Vibe (6 February 2017) commented on a video posted by Raquel Reichard, Latina (3 February 2017) in “Meet Arturo Schomburg, an Afro-Puerto Rican Historian Called ‘The Father of Black History.’” In “Why Afro-Boricua Scholar Arturo Schomburg Should Be Celebrated This Black History Month,” Davis writes:
During the Harlem Renaissance, Afro-Boricua scholar Arturo Schomburg transformed New York Public Library’s “Division of Negro Literature, History and Prints” into an epicenter grounded in telling the story of the African diaspora.
Today, the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture stands as a National Historic Landmark after the Department of the Interior (DOI) recognized the longstanding cultural hub on Jan. 11, days before President Barack Obama completed his tenure in office.
According to Latina, the impetus of the Santurce native’s contribution to black history began in grade school, where he was told that “black people had no history, heroes or accomplishments.” Setting out to New York, the renowned bibliophile collected and preserved thousands of books, manuscripts, pamphlets and artwork throughout his lifetime that proved otherwise. [. . .]
For full article, see http://www.vibe.com/2017/02/arturo-schomburg-black-history