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The Storytellers’ Hat: Catherine Blackwell Enriched Our Lives

By Laydell Wood Harper/Tell Us Detroit

DETROIT, MI (Tell Us Det) - Catherine C. Blackwell one of Detroit’s most beloved crown jewels passed away on Saturday, February 1, 2014. Ms. Blackwell was 94 years old. Of course, to look at her you would have never guessed her age. Her warm smile and delightful personality were contagious. Even in her 90’s she lead a wonderfully active life. She continued to attend many of the social events, particularly those associated with the arts. If you have visited one of our local museums lately, (The Detroit Institute of Arts or the Charles Wright Museum of African and African American History) you have most likely had the pleasure of viewing pieces from the African Art Collection of Catherine C. Blackwell, particularly her famous Storytellers’ Hat.

For those that did not know Catherine C. Blackwell or know of her, she spent her life giving back to the community. She was well known for her extensive African Art collection. The walls of her home are decorated throughout with her treasured African Art pieces; and paintings each with special meaning and specially selected from one of her many trips to Africa. And one of her most prized trophies was her African Grey Parakeet “Akua” that she brought from Africa nearly 40 years ago. They had been together for so long that Akua makes sounds of laughter exactly like Ms. Blackwell.

A former Detroit School teacher, students were her special passion. Several years ago, on a frigidly cold winter evening, the Charles H. Wright Museum rotunda was filled to capacity with students (elementary school through high school) and their parents. Many of whom attended the Catherine C. Blackwell School (named in honor of Ms. Blackwell). They all came out in support of Ms. Blackwell to launch the Teaching Collection of Catherine C. Blackwell.

In her remarks Ms. Blackwell said, “My former students are all around me, in fact the young man that just introduced me was a student in my third grade class. He just recently told me about the secret that he told his dad one morning before coming to school. He said, I’m going to marry Ms. Blackwell when I get big.” She was always pleasant, and always smiling. Her students knew how much she cared.

Her students were the impetus for her 65 trips to 42 countries on the continent. Blackwell’s desire to give her students a sense of pride in their African heritage was the driving force. Each time she returned from Africa with new items for her collection. What she didn’t realize at the time was her strong desire to educate her students in the classroom would result in educating the entire community. Her goal was always to educate; she never thought of collecting simply for show.

“I could never afford what you’d call museum-quality pieces,” Blackwell commented in a recent interview. “I looked for and brought pieces that I found interesting, beautiful or that served a purpose”. Ms. Blackwell’s personal collection consists of approximately 500 works. Her collection is a wonderful legacy… her philosophy and zest for life was of value to everyone. We must all remember her favorite phrase “A day without laughter is a day lost.”

Born in Detroit, Ms. Blackwell graduated from Northwestern High School. In 1942 she earned a B.A. in social work from Howard University. She worked as a statistical analyst with the Washington Housing Association and the United States Health Department before returning to Detroit as a caseworker in the Department of Public Welfare. In 1955 Blackwell earned her M.A. in education from Wayne State University and went to work as an elementary, creative and performing arts teacher in the Detroit Public Schools.

Blackwell rose through the teaching ranks and became an administrator in the Detroit Public Schools, serving as both black studies coordinator and African/African-American resource consultant. She also served as the director of the African-American Curriculum Center at Wayne State University and as a nationwide consultant and lecturer in African-American history and curriculum. Ms. Blackwell was also a dedicated advocate for civil rights. She worked in a Jackson, Mississippi freedom school in the 1960's and was named chair of the Michigan Civil Rights Commission in 1973.

Ms. Blackwell has been recognized in many ways for her efforts on behalf of Detroit's children. In 1993 she was inducted into the Michigan Women's Hall of Fame. In 1992 the Detroit Public Schools named in her honor a school, the Catherine C. Blackwell Institute of International Studies, Commerce and Technology. She was also awarded the Whitney M. Young Jr. Memorial Award from the Detroit Public Library, the Sojourner Truth Award from the Detroit Club of the National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women's Clubs, the Outstanding Women in Education Award from the Women's Lawyers Association, and the Ford Freedom Award from the Charles Wright Museum of African and African-American Art of Detroit. Ms. Blackwell was a treasured member emeritus of the Detroit Institute of Arts Auxiliary, Friends of African and African American Art.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, February 8, at the Cathedral Church on Woodward. The time of service and other details have not been finalized.
 

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