Inspiration of Charles Blockson

In 1942, a 9-year-old boy asked his 4th grade teacher why the history of Black people never came up in their studies. Her callous reply — that Black people had no history beyond serving white people — catalyzed a life-long journey for the child, a young Charles Blockson, to uplift the history and voices of his Black ancestors.

Blockson, a Norristown native, made it his mission to ensure that children have access to explore the global Black experience throughout history. His life’s work - a collection of rare books, current periodicals, letters, photographs, artifacts and memorabilia - is currently on display inside Norristown’s historic Centre Theater, thanks in large part to a grant from PECO.

“The Charles L. Blockson Exhibition: an African and AfroAmerican Collection” features pieces spanning centuries, with some items dating back to the Underground Railroad and others more recent, including poems and lines from the late rapper Tupac Shakur. This unique opportunity to honor the journey of Black lives and the Black experience in America — including, as Blockson says, “the agony of enslavement and the ecstasy of freedom” — is a true gift for everyone.

At PECO, we believe that every child deserves to see their likeness, history, and experiences represented in the arts; and we have made an ongoing pledge to always celebrate diverse voices and experiences in the art.

Doing so is crucial to the vibrancy of this region. And we have made an ongoing commitment to making the arts accessible - highlighted in that PECO underwrote the cost of free admission for everyone to attend “The Charles L. Blockson Exhibition” during Juneteenth weekend.

PECO’s commitment is also highlighted in our recent announcement of the Powering the Arts grant program which offers one-year or two-year grants of up to $10,000 per year for a maximum of $20,000 over two years to support new or ongoing efforts to attract diverse audiences and rebuild arts communities across Southeastern Pennsylvania.

As our region continues to recover from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, research shows that the recovery of our arts and cultural organizations are key to revitalizing communities that long to come together again.

PECO powers more than the lights in our homes and gas on our stoves — we power communities. And nothing strengthens communities like the arts. We are proud to support projects that bring the arts directly to communities, to work toward equitable access to art and culture, and to advocate for opportunities to enhance engagement.

It is safe to say the Blockson Exhibition, and the many cultural exhibitions, programs and initiatives we support across the region, accomplish all of the above.

We hope you will join us as we continue to celebrate Black voices in the arts in Montgomery County and beyond by visiting here to learn more about “The Charles L. Blockson Exhibition: an African and Afro-American Collection.”

And if you know a community-based arts or non-arts group that is reaching new and diverse audiences with arts and culture programming, encourage them to apply for a PECO Powering the Arts grant by August 31.