Living History at the African American Museum of Rhode Island

Tucked into Upper South Providence, at the SouthSide Gateways storefront, is a new, welcoming space with many stories to tell. Here, people gather to learn about African American Rhode Islanders who made history and, in some cases, meet them. Stories emerge, such as those of Meredith Costa, RI’s first African American woman principal, and her husband of over 50 years, Joseph Costa, director emeritus of Student Support Services at Rhode Island College, as well as musical prodigy Randall Ashe.

“Folks want community,” reflects Dr. Christopher West, executive director of the African American Museum of Rhode Island (AAMRI). “People ask, ‘Why a storefront on Broad Street?’ Because history belongs on the sidewalk. It belongs where people buy their groceries, where they catch the bus. We want a space where an elder can walk past the window, see Omar Bradley’s photography, and walk inside to say, ‘I know exactly who that is.’”

The new museum showcases Rhode Island’s African American culture, life, and history while fostering community and youth empowerment. Through core programming, the space serves as a site of learning, production, and preservation, with a focus on Black Rhode Islanders and their contributions.

West explains that AAMRI’s origins date back to a stroll down Camp Street, when founding member Helen Baskerville Dukes saw a sign for Willie Dixie Matthews on a light pole. She asked fellow founding member Robert L. Bailey, V about him. Bailey revealed that Matthews was his uncle, a professional baseball player who was inducted into the Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame for speaking out against racial injustice, including the treatment of African American players in professional sports. Dukes realized that neighborhood children walk through these streets unaware of the prominent Black figures who lived in their backyard. Soon, work began on AAMRI, created to fill that void.

West shares the story about the soldiers who died in the Revolutionary War while serving in the First Colored Regiment. Their heroism now persists despite disparaging rumors at the time from a US Army War College Report stating that “Black soldiers do not stand in the face of arms.” “Here is the fundamental story of Rhode Island,” says West. “That these Black men... are going to give their lives. The bullets didn’t go into their backs, the bullets stood because they were soldiers and they chose that.”

He also highlights Arthur J. “Daddy” Black, who lived an extraordinary life as a US Navy veteran, prominent businessman, and investor in Black baseball teams. However, the only photo of him in public archives remains his mug shot, ironic considering his significant achievements. Like similar stories of many notable African Americans, the historical information often gets lost, and it can be heavy work to find it.

The museum’s goal is to make stories like these accessible to all. To achieve this, AAMRI is leading the charge to introduce a new high school curriculum by the fall of this year. The framework aims to bring the state’s rich Black history directly into local classrooms, ensuring the next generation grows up with an active connection to the extraordinary legacies built right in their backyards.

First Exhibition

Welcome to the Neighborhood: Mapping Black Providence 1940s-1970s, shows the community life and contributions Black Rhode Islanders built across Fox Point, Lippitt Hill, University Heights, and South Providence. For hours and more information, visit AAM-RI.org.