Dr. John Fleming was the founding director of the Afro-American Museum in Wilberforce. The museum opened its doors in 1988. He was saddened to see it close in August of 2011. For awhile the future of it was uncertain, but it re-opened recently thanks in part to funding from the state.
It did not make Fleming happy to see the museum close because of mold problems. And now he feels the museum staff, led by current Director Dr. Charles Wash, needs to think about its future and what it will take to keep it going.
When Fleming left the Afro-American Museum in 1998 to develop the National Underground Freedom Center, the museum was nationally recognized and had exhibits that were being shown in the Smithsonian and other prominent venues around the country.