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Black History Month and the COVID-19 pandemic

Charles H. Wright Museum
Posted at 6:28 PM, Feb 16, 2021
and last updated 2021-02-16 19:26:42-05

(WXYZ) — In tonight's 7 UpFront report we're celebrating Black History Month as well as taking a closer look at home the pandemic is impacting African American communities.

We're being joined by The President and CEO of the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History Neil Barclay for the 7 Upfront segment to talk about it.

You can see the full interview in the video player above.

"On our website were have tried to recognize those who have passed away from the pandemic in a section of the website called 'In Memorium'. It's mostly focused on our neighbors here in Detroit, but we have also highlighted some important figures in African American history who have passed due to the pandemic," Barclay says.

"We were closed from March until July 10th," he says. "We opened July 10th and we're now open Thursday through Sundays at the museums. You do need to go online and make a reservation because we are restricted in the number of people we can have in the museum at any given time, but once you reserve your place and time, you are able to come in and enjoy all we have to offer at the museum."

"It is such an important moment, isn't it, or us to remember how African Americans have really changed the face of the United States and the world, but also to come to terms with the inequities that have been a result of our history in this land and I think, now more than ever, us beginning to understand the depth and the contributions of the role of African Americans in American life is something that we all could learn more about and take to heart," Barclay says.