» Unveiling the Legacy of Avery: Ardra Whitney

Greetings, my name is Ardra Whitney. Not too long ago, DaNia Childress, Project Director at Avery Research Center for African American History and Culture reached out to me about recognizing Avery Research Center on its 40th anniversary. In celebration of this milestone, I was asked to compose a brief reflection on what my experience as a postgraduate fellow at Avery Research Center meant to me. 

Before becoming a Benefits Opportunity Specialist with the Human Resources Administration of New York City in 2014, I served as an Institute of Museum and Library Services Fellow with the Avery Research Center in Charleston, South Carolina from 2012 to 2013. I found my experience at Avery Research Center meaningful because it taught me that history is not just a date. It’s a remembering of the story of humanity.

Moreover, my archival work at Avery Research Center reinforced the importance of learning about Black history in order to understand how events in the past have shaped, influenced and changed the way things are for Blacks today. With lessons from the past, we not only learn about ourselves and how we came to be, but also develop the ability to create better paths for Black life. Happy 40th Anniversary Avery Research Center!