A museum rises again

In the most troubled of many troubled times stretching back through the decades, the African American Museum in Philadelphia almost became a building without a staff.

The reason was simple: No cash.

Before that perilous moment in 2004, the museum had had more than a dozen directors. And even before that - before it became the first municipally funded black museum in the country in 1976 - it had faced contentious neighbors and lawsuits aimed at stopping its construction.

But through all the criticism and fiscal crises, the museum has survived, and now, as it marks its 35th anniversary with a weekend-long Juneteenth celebration, it appears to have achieved not just survival, but stability.

Since Romona Riscoe Benson, now president and chief executive, came up with a plan to surmount the 2004 emergency, the museum has sharpened its focus, diversified its funding, and is emerging as a critical part of the city's cultural identity.

"Because the African American Museum has such a long history in the community, they serve as anchor for other, newer cultural institutions," said Tarana Burke, managing director at Art Sanctuary in North Philadelphia.

"We regard the African American Museum as both a museum of African American history and as a museum that collects African American art," said Calvin Bland, a museum board member since 1999. "The museum has always been, and now is, important to all. As a society, we properly embrace our diverse roots, seek to understand our history and aspirations so we can better work with one another. I want to emphasize that: This is a museum that's important for all of us, not only African Americans."

Riscoe Benson, 51, a business consultant, is widely credited with stepping into 2004's unpredictable situation with a plan focused on stabilizing finances and reorganizing operations.

The museum was one of three funded by the city to celebrate the nation's bicentennial. The Living History Museum lasted a few years before shuttering, unable to finance operations. The Mummers Museum in South Philadelphia still operates.

The African American Museum was not originally part of Mayor Frank Rizzo's museum-construction mania. But it was pushed by black civic and cultural leaders before City Council, and he subsequently agreed to the plan.