The Freeman Institute® Foundation Black History "Overcomer's" Gallery Projec

~  History, Overcomers & the Entrepreneurial Spirit  ~

Objective
The Freeman Institute® Foundation wants to help establish self-sustaining
Freeman Black History "Overcomer's" Galleries in communities across America
& selected cities internationally.
Purpose
To educate and inspire young people of all ages.

C.P.A. Concept for every
Freeman Black History "Overcomer's" Gallery

Capturing Hearts & Minds through the inspiration received from and knowledge contained in Return To Glory (RTG) resources (film, book, etc.). A combined strategic focus on this step, will allow RTG to be even more deliberate in achieving its goal of changing the distorted image of Black people by starting from their ancient beginnings instead of the traditional starting points of slavery, colonization or apartheid.
Proving the Point with documents and artifacts. Verification of the history will be established through the exhibition of historical documents and artifacts from The Freeman Institute Black History collection and also from local residents, representing the respective community in which the Black History Gallery project has a presence.
Affecting Change & Future Life Goals is realized through partnerships with national and community-based service organizations with missions to impact behavior and alter life outcomes. The Foundation's desire is to assist by providing resources to help facilitate the kind of lasting change that will help individuals realize their true potential, regardless of race, gender or generation. The RTG film will be shown every hour on the hour in every gallery, in the language specific to that region of the world -- French, Portuguese, Spanish or English.

BACKGROUND  The unique book, Return to Glory: The Powerful Stirring of the Black Race, has received excellent reviews from the likes of Bill Cosby and Julius Erving to Ben Carson, Tony Campolo, Tony Evans, Donald Cole, Joe Frazier and many others.

Authors Don Griffin (senior Human Resources executive and counselor) and Joel Freeman (veteran chaplain of the NBA Washington Wizards/Bullets for 19 years ['79-'98], corporate trainer and professional speaker) co-wrote the book and also co-developed the script for the film version.

Created by RTG Pictures, the award-winning film is available (order online). This book and film project is unique in that Don Griffin is African American and Joel Freeman is Caucasian. The message of the book and the film has informed and inspired millions of people around the world.

The Freeman Institute® (CEO, Dr. Joel Freeman) owns a Black History collection of 3,000+ vintage documents and artifacts, with the oldest piece dated 1553. You can review the collection here.

THE BIG PICTURE  The prime objective of the Foundation is to establish Freeman Black History Galleries, connecting the African American experience with galleries in major U.S. cities and in selected cities internationally (parts of Canada, Europe, Africa and South America and every Caribbean country).

THRIVING ON THE IMPOSSIBLE  Does the international aspect of the gallery project sound improbable...even impossible? How will all this happen? Frankly, we do not know. But we all realize that before embarking upon any journey one must first start by doing what's necessary...

Start by doing what's necessary; then do what's possible;
and suddenly you are doing the impossible.   -- St. Francis of Assisi

We invite you to join us in the adventure. Much of the heavy lifting has already been accomplished. The Freeman Black History Gallery business model allows for 10, 100, or even 1,000+ galleries around the world. The sky's the limit!

If you are interested in learning more about the
Black History "Overcomer's" Gallery Project, here is a presentation
Dr. Joel Freeman made to a group interested in establishing an
"Overcomer's" gallery in their community. Before this video is over, you
will have captured a glimpse into Joel Freeman's heart and vision for
helping to establish "Overcomer's" galleries in communities
across America and also in selected cities internationally.

ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT  All it takes is for one person with an entrepreneurial spirit in each community to capture the vision and lead the charge. Is that one person you? Send this website to other key decision-makers in your community and then contact Dr. Freeman (410-729-4011) for the next steps. Community-based organizations, churches, businesses and colleges may want to be a part of sponsoring Black History galleries in communities throughout the USA, the Caribbean and parts of Canada.

After you have finished reviewing the material on this web page, come back to read more about Joel Freeman's bio and personal story. (Email for more information...requesting a confidential 15-page overview of Freeman Black History Gallery concept.)

TOWN WELL CONCEPT  Hopefully each gallery will become a local "town well," where young people are mentored, families break the curse of debt, entrepreneurial dreams are fostered and lives are changed. It's all about purpose. We hope that each gallery will have a side room with computers, so that students can come right after school to study in an educational atmosphere. We also hope to establish an entrepreneur club in each gallery for all interested in taking an idea to the marketplace -- artists, musicians, authors, business concepts, etc.. Successful business people in the community will have the opportunity to become business mentors. Dr. Freeman's entrepreneur book/workbook combination (with Leader's Guide) can be used as course material -- "If Nobody Loves You Create the Demand!"

PROTOCOL  We envision that any gallery you may visit throughout the world will have it's own local flavor, but will adhere to a common code of conduct. Our desire is for each gallery to function kind of like a franchise. Professional. Friendly. Excellent customer service.  Strictly non-partisan. Accepting and respecting all who visit (Liberal, Conservative, Independent)...regardless of their political or religious leanings. The galleries will collectively create and then live by a code of conduct accepted and appreciated by all. All legal, insurance, security, staffing and climate-control issues will be standard.

JUNIOR CURATOR MENTORING PROGRAM  The objective is for each gallery to hire young people (14-16 years) who will earn the right to become the narrators or guides for visitors. Each "Return To Glory" teenager will be brought through a comprehensive mentoring process.

It will be inspirational to see a young person talking as an expert on Phillis Wheatley, Frederick Douglass, Sojourner Truth, Solomon Northrop and other known and not-so-known historical figures. It would be such a joy to follow every "Return To Glory" kid through college (with scholarship help) and after graduation to help open doors in his/her selected vocation. The goal is for this to be part of the generational legacy of each gallery.

YOU BE THE JUDGE  The Freeman Institute® recently acquired a 19th Century painting of a woman who bears a remarkable resemblance to Harriet Tubman. After completing this page, feel free to come back up and click on the image (>) to do your own comparison. Each Gallery will have a giclee' reproduction of this painting to engage visitors on another level. The store in each gallery will have giclee' reproductions for sale in three sizes.

LOCAL HISTORY We envision that once a local gallery is established, people in each community will come forward with documents and artifacts that they will loan or donate to the gallery, desiring to re-animate the legacy of a relative (grandparent, aunt, uncle, parent). There are many stories that the current generation needs to know and understand. We predict that -- once the news gets out -- the local community's outpouring of support with historical items and stories to be told will be unprecedented.

ANCIENT TOUCHSTONE  Dr. Freeman, the president of The Freeman Institute® Foundation, has created (with a lot of help) a digital model and mold and the fabrication of museum-quality replicas. He was looking for something that could be utilized as an exhibit,  stepping back ion time to ancient African kingdoms as a context of inventiveness and creativity before reviewing the past 4 centuries of American history.

Why the Rosetta Stone?  A full life-size, 3-D replica of the Rosetta Stone (45" tall x 30" wide x 11" thick) in each gallery provides a literal touchstone to ancient times, reminding the viewer that Egypt is located in Africa, not the Middle East. It also provides a solid ancient historical context, helping us to better understand the roots of African American history.

We will not reinforce the misguided notion that Black History started with the Slave Trade and the peculiar institution of slavery.

Black History has its ancient roots firmly planted in creativity, inventiveness, ingenuity, royalty, perseverance and so much more, with many African Kingdoms (Ghanian, Songehay, Great Zimbabwe, Malian, etc.) -- providing a context for the documents and artifacts that exhibit the important and often overlooked role African Americans played in the past four centuries of American history.

WHITE ABOLITIONISTS  One of the plans also is for each Freeman Black History Gallery to have a wall honoring some of the White abolitionists who sacrificed much for the anti-slavery cause -- with some making the ultimate sacrifice. Each visitor will be provided the opportunity to complete their tour of the local gallery with a "pep in his/her step" regardless of ethnicity, gender or religion. It's all bound up in the value of mutual respect.

Seek to understand before seeking to be understood.   -- St. Augustine

Here is an overview of the past and present progress, with an eye cast to the future:

• PHASE ONE:  Development of the 501(c)3 non-profit organization, The Freeman Institute® Foundation (web) -- DONE!
• PHASE TWO:  Development of The Freeman Institute® Black History Collection (3,000+ documents and artifacts. Oldest piece dated 1553) (web) -- DONE...and expanding!
• PHASE THREE:  Development of the Rosetta Stone replica project (web) -- DONE!
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• PHASE FOUR:  Here's where the fun begins! Site selection of first gallery. We envision that churches, charter schools, home school groups, private schools, or faith-based organizations may be the best hosts for such galleries, providing a unique outreach to their respective communities. We are also open to other community-based organizations -- Will your community be the first? EMAIL
     * NOTE: This first gallery is very important, because it will become the "gold standard," against which all future galleries will be measured. Even though each gallery leadership group will develop their own way in each community -- all future gallery directors will have to spend time at this first gallery...learning from their successes and mistakes. Over the first 8-9 months we will work the bugs out before moving to the next phase.
• PHASE FIVE:  The establishment of 3-4 more galleries...watching closely for any systemic challenges, failures or issues that need to be addressed.
• PHASE SIX:  Watching carefully, we will then permit an expansion to various parts of the United States, Canada and the Caribbean. Each new country will start back at Phase Four, with the establishment of one gallery to make sure that the gallery project is culturally sound for that new part of the world.
• PHASE SEVEN:  We have some unique plans to connect each gallery through technology (video games, Internet) and a daisy-chain of new documents and artifacts bringing fresh excitement twice a year throughout the entire group of galleries around the world. Can you imagine a kid in Ghana playing a historically-vibrant video game against kids in London, Toronto, Atlanta and Freeport?
• PHASE EIGHT:  We have other BIG dreams, but will not communicate them here. Enough for now...

What will it take for a local organization to start a Black History gallery? We have a much more comprehensive overview in the confidential document, available to those interested in establishing a Freeman Black History Gallery in their community.

O W N   A   R A R E   P I E C E   O F   H I S T O R Y

For starters, find corporations or local foundations to grant funds for the framing of documents, touch-screen TVs, remodeling costs, etc. And also locate a building with at least 2,000 - 3,000 square feet to get a gallery going in your community. We have developed an AutoCAD design (below) demonstrating how the square footage can be filled.

One of the more generous corporations funding the local effort can become the title sponsor of the gallery in their community.

ECONOMIC VIABILITY  The economic viability of the gallery concept has already been completed. This includes, corporate donations, membership drive, minimal ticket pricing, store in each gallery selling reproductions, books, art and DVDs...and more. Each gallery will be built upon a local entrepreneurial spirit.

TRUTHCENTRIC  Both Afrocentrism and Eurocentrism have good points to them. But after careful research over the years, the growing realization that has emerged is that both disciplines also have some pretty crazy/fringe stuff that's isn't corroborated by original sources. We'd rather use the term: "Truthcentric" -- hopefully providing more light than heat.

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TRUTHCENTRISM

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* Types of community organizations that can help make the Freeman Black
                                                         History Gallery a sustained, long-term success:

• Church -- possible host of a unique, long-term outreach to the community. Teenagers can earn the right to become paid junior curators of the gallery, guiding visitors to a better understanding of the historical context for each exhibit.
• Charter School, Private School or Home School Group -- other possible hosts of a unique, long-term outreach to the community. Teenagers can earn the right to become paid junior curators of the gallery, guiding visitors to a better understanding of the historical context for each exhibit.
• Marketing/Business class in local college -- students receive extra credit for developing and then helping to implement a marketing plan.
• Humanities/History class in local HS/college -- students receive extra credit for researching, arranging and communicating the history of each exhibit.
• Architecture/Design class of local college -- students receive extra credit for drawing a design that will work with the space provided for the gallery.
• Artists, Authors and Musicians -- Each gallery will have a store to help with the economic viability of each site. The more galleries, the larger the distribution footprint. We will also sell reproductions of some of the historic pieces exhibited in a gallery.
• Local Businesses and Entrepreneurs -- can help to provide initial and on-going funding for the project. Some corporations will want to become the named sponsors of certain rooms, walls and/or specific exhibits.
• Local Media -- can help promote the success of such a project via radio, TV and newsprint..
• Votech -- Vocational institutions are looking for projects that provide real-world experience for drafting, carpentry skills, and metal work. Each gallery will need such practical help.
• Local Primary, Elementary & Junior High Schools -- can plan class trips annually to the gallery.
• Local Residents -- some may have historical documents and artifacts in their attics and basements that can be donated or loaned to their local gallery for future exhibits.
• Tourism. Tourism. Tourism. -- this project can attract tourism and an extra buzz to the community. Any local government will want to help with this project...

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Learn more about a potential Black History gallery in your community.
Contact Joel Freeman and receive a more comprehensive document about the project.
tel: 410-729-4011  email

RTG DVD PROJECT  Another Foundation objective is to donate a special "not-for-resale" edition of the DVD version of the film (with over 2 hours of uncut interviews, music videos from DC Talk, Lil' iROCC, NAS, short films, Photo Galleries and more) to every juvenile detention center, prison and school (Middle, Junior High, Senior High, College, University) in America.

Each gallery leadership team will be given the opportunity to participate in this project as they seek to increase their local impact.

The RTG film has been translated into French, Portuguese and Spanish, along with English subtitles for the hearing impaired. This ambitious project includes plans to raise the funds to distribute the French, Portuguese and Spanish versions (special DVD edition) of the film throughout the continent of Africa, parts of Europe, parts of South America and the Caribbean. This is an ongoing, ever-expanding project. View more about the present/future plans of The Freeman Institute Foundation. Click Here.

The Return To Glory film has won the Best Documentary award at the Reel Back Woods Film Festival and is being shown across America in regional screenings. Let us know if you would like to have a special screening of the RTG film in your community.

~ Gallery ~
Exhibiting 50+ artifacts & framed documents, along with open area for fund-raisers (jazz quartet, etc).
Rosetta Stone replica is the first item visitors review (to the left) as they walk in.
~ Screening Room ~
Showing the 45-minute Return To Glory film every hour-on-the-hour in every gallery.
Sliding wall for screening area makes for an even larger open area, if necessary.
~ Shop ~
Long-term economic viability of gallery encouraged by offering DVDs, books, reproductions, etc. for sale.
~ Classroom ~
Permitting students to finish homework before going home after school.

BLACK HISTORY PRESENTATIONS  Dr. Freeman has a Black History presentation that has received excellent reviews from many audiences around the world. Call him: 410-729-4011.

the over-arching theme of each Freeman Black History Gallery

African American History
and the
Entrepreneurial Spirit

Lessons from Blades of Grass in a Concrete Jungle

fugitive slave laws  racism  prejudice  bigotry  slave trade  jim crow  slavery

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There are many historical reasons why people have been and continue to be challenged by the hardships that accompany racism, prejudice and bigotry. Those hardships can be likened to the claustrophobic layers of concrete that gradually seek to nullify all viable options available to an individual under such weight.
But as Russian historian and novelist, Alexander Solzhenitsyn once remarked, "If the whole world were covered in concrete, a single blade of grass would sooner or later break through."
A truth-centric view of history will graphically describe the concrete as a metaphor for  the Slave Trade, slavery, fugitive slave laws, reconstruction, lynching, Jim Crow and the struggle for civil rights.
However, there are a number of examples of people who, like blades of grass, have broken through and defied the power of the concrete. These are the stories we will tell. The thicker the concrete, the more inspirational the story. Blades of grass cracking the mighty concrete from beneath. Can't keep the entrepreneurial spirit down.

So many entrepreneurial stories to tell. Harriet Tubman, Frederick Douglass. Sojourner Truth. Solomon Northrop. Annie Malone. Madam CJ Walker. And more...

~ THE  THICKER  THE  CONCRETE  THE  MORE  INSPIRATIONAL  THE  STORY ~

The Freeman Institute Black History Collection and Freeman Galleries will be dedicated to sharing some of the most powerful wisdom lessons gleaned from the many "blades of grass" who have patiently worked their way through the concrete.

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"The battles that count aren't the ones for gold medals. The struggles within yourself --
 the invisible, inevitable battles inside all of us--that's where it's at."   - Jesse Owens
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Copyright © 2010 - NOW by Joel A. Freeman, Ph.D.  All rights reserved.
Note: Reproduction of any kind, including copying and pasting, is strictly prohibited unless given written permission.

The Black History Gallery Project is designed to help fulfill
Mary McLeod Bethune's Legacy as outlined in her
Last Will & Testament

Sometimes as I sit communing in my study I feel that death is not far off. I am aware that it will overtake me before the greatest of my dreams – full equality for the Negro in our time – is realized. Yet, I face that reality without fear or regrets. I am resigned to death as all humans must be at the proper time. Death neither alarms nor frightens one who has had a long career of fruitful toil. The knowledge that my work has been helpful to many fills me with joy and great satisfaction.
Since my retirement from an active role in educational work and from the affairs of the National Council of Negro Women, I have been living quietly and working at my desk at my home here in Florida.

The years have directed a change of pace for me. I am now 78 years old and my activities are no longer so strenuous as they once were. I feel that I must conserve my strength to finish the work at hand.

Already I have begun working on my autobiography which will record my life-journey in detail, together with the innumerable side trips which have carried me abroad, into every corner of our country, into homes both lowly and luxurious, and even into the White House to confer with Presidents.

I have also deeded my home and its contents to the Mary McLeod Bethune Foundation, organized in March, 1953, for research, interracial activity and the sponsorship of wider educational opportunities.

Sometimes I ask myself if I have any other legacy to leave. Truly, my worldly possessions are few. Yet, my experiences have been rich. From them, I have distilled principles and policies in which I believe firmly, for they represent the meaning of my life's work. They are the products of much sweat and sorrow. Perhaps in them there is something of value. So, as my life draws to a close, I will pass them on to Negroes everywhere in the hope that an old woman's philosophy may give them inspiration. Here, then is my legacy...

George C. Fraser is Chairman and CEO of FraserNet, Inc. A company he founded some 20 years ago with the vision to lead a global networking movement that brings together diverse human resources to increase opportunities for people of African descent. He is considered by many to be a new voice for African Americans and one of the foremost authorities on economic development, networking and building effective relationships.
  Mr. Fraser has authored three critically acclaimed books: Success Runs In Our Race; The Complete Guide to Effective Networking in the African American Community and Race For Success; The Ten Best Business Opportunities for Blacks In America and the most recent, Click: Ten Truths to Building Extraordinary Relationships.
  UPSCALE magazine name him one of the “Top 50 power brokers in Black America”. Black Enterprise Magazine called him “Black America’s #1 Networker” and featured him on a cover issue. Personal growth “guru” Stephen Covey called Mr. Fraser a “masterful teacher”.

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The top-of-mind question with most is
"What would ever motivate a White man to be interested in Black History?"
Click here to review Dr. Joel Freeman's written response to that question.

Dr. Joel A. Freeman is the keynote speaker at many Black History presentations and cross-cultural competence training events around the world.  At this Black History Month event in the Washington, DC region, many participants stayed afterwards to review documents and artifacts from The Freeman Institute Black History collection. Black history was the gateway through which Dr. Freeman developed a passion for cross cultural communication.

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Documents and artifacts from The Freeman Institute Black History collection have been exhibited in a number of venues around North America, including the White House Communications, US Department of Justice, Harlem Book Fair, Rutgers University, Frostburg State University, the US Secret Service, and also showcased at the United Nations' month-long exhibition commemorating the International Day of Remembrance of the victims of slavery and the transatlantic slave trade in 2011 and again in 2012.