The African American Museum at The England Manor

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The African American Museum at The England Manor We're an African American museum in Waukegan, IL that focuses on history, culture, and education. Visit: www.theenglandmanor.com
Donate: https://bit.ly/4qMyuXV

The only comprehensive African American Museum in Lake County, Illinois.

📚 On This Day in Black History: October 20, 1904 📚Today, The African American Museum at The England Manor honors the bir...
10/20/2026

📚 On This Day in Black History: October 20, 1904 📚

Today, The African American Museum at The England Manor honors the birth of Enolia Pettigen McMillan, a pioneering educator and civil rights leader who became the first woman to serve as national president of the NAACP.

Born on October 20, 1904, in Willow Grove, Pennsylvania, McMillan dedicated her life to expanding educational opportunities and challenging racial inequality. Her leadership took her from Maryland classrooms to one of the nation’s most influential civil rights organizations.

📖 Education as a Foundation for Change

After attending segregated schools, McMillan pursued her undergraduate education at Howard University. She later earned a master’s degree from Columbia University in 1933.

Her graduate thesis examined inequalities in Maryland’s segregated school system, including differences in school terms, teacher salaries, and curricula. She used her education to document injustices affecting Black students and teachers.

✊🏾 Fighting for Students and Teachers

As an educator and president of the Maryland State Colored Teachers’ Association, McMillan advocated for equal educational opportunities and fair compensation.

Her work helped challenge the practice of paying Black teachers less than their white colleagues. She also played an active role in efforts to desegregate Maryland schools, connecting classroom leadership with the broader struggle for civil rights.

🏛️ Making History at the NAACP

In 1969, one year after retiring from Baltimore’s public school system, McMillan became president of the Baltimore NAACP branch.

In 1984, she made history as the organization’s first female national president, serving until 1990. During her presidency, she helped bring the NAACP’s national headquarters from New York to Baltimore in 1986. Her organizing and fundraising demonstrated the power of sustained community involvement.

🎓 Opening Doors in Higher Education

McMillan also became the first woman to chair Morgan State University’s Board of Regents.

Her service extended her commitment to education beyond public schools and into university leadership, helping shape institutions that created opportunities for future generations.

🌟 A Legacy Worth Remembering

McMillan passed away on October 24, 2006, just four days after her 102nd birthday.

Her story reminds us that lasting change grows through teaching, organizing, and the determination to confront unfair systems.

At The African American Museum at The England Manor, we preserve these stories so that future generations can learn from the people who expanded access to education and leadership. ✊🏾

Did you know Enolia Pettigen McMillan was the first woman to serve as national president of the NAACP? What part of her work inspires you most?

Paul Robeson: Here I Stand Documentaryhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUki-v-NvoE
10/20/2026

Paul Robeson: Here I Stand Documentary

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUki-v-NvoE

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

📚 On This Day in Black History: October 19, 1943 📚Today, The African American Museum at The England Manor celebrates Pau...
10/19/2026

📚 On This Day in Black History: October 19, 1943 📚

Today, The African American Museum at The England Manor celebrates Paul Robeson and a landmark moment in American theater.

On October 19, 1943, Robeson opened in the title role of William Shakespeare’s Othello at Broadway’s Shubert Theatre. Produced by The Theatre Guild and directed by Margaret Webster, the production became an extraordinary artistic achievement and an important moment for Black representation onstage.

🎭 A Journey to Center Stage

Robeson’s path to the theater reflected his remarkable range of talents. He was an All-American football player at Rutgers and graduated from Columbia Law School in 1923 before leaving the legal profession to pursue a career in performance.

He had already played Othello in London in 1930, opposite Peggy Ashcroft as Desdemona. Thirteen years later, his Broadway performance brought that experience to American audiences.

✊🏾 Challenging Racial Barriers

At a time when racism restricted opportunities for Black performers, Robeson took center stage in one of Shakespeare’s most demanding roles.

His portrayal opposite white cast members challenged racial conventions in American theater. The production offered audiences a Black leading actor whose talent and presence commanded one of Broadway’s most prominent stages.

🌟 An Extraordinary Ensemble

Robeson appeared alongside Uta Hagen as Desdemona and José Ferrer as Iago. Margaret Webster directed the production while also performing as Emilia.

Robert Edmond Jones contributed the scenic and costume designs, helping shape the visual world of this historic staging.

🏛️ A Record in Theater History

The production ran for 296 performances, closing on July 1, 1944. It became the longest-running Shakespearean production on Broadway up to that time.

That achievement made Robeson’s Othello a defining chapter in both Black history and American theater history.

📖 Preserving the Story

At The African American Museum at The England Manor, we celebrate stories that help us understand how Black artists have expanded possibilities for future generations.

Robeson’s story invites us to consider the power of representation, the courage required to challenge exclusion, and the importance of preserving the achievements of Black performers. ✊🏾

Did you know about Paul Robeson’s historic performance as Othello? Which Black stage performer has made a lasting impression on you, and why?

Reggie Jackson : The Making of Mr. October 🙂https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2O_HDwo2gU
10/19/2026

Reggie Jackson : The Making of Mr. October 🙂

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2O_HDwo2gU

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

10/18/2026

'Mr. October' for a reason — Reggie Jackson hit three home runs on three straight swings in a single World Series game.

Shared from 🎥✨ Full credit to them. Watch more 📺
https://www.facebook.com/reel/1136603492636263

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503 N Genesee Street
Waukegan, IL
60085

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