~~~ "FM Events" Presents  ~~~

Dr. Joel Freeman    *    Mark E. Mitchell

Discover the Powerful Images of Black History from the Ancient to the Modern

Mark E. Mitchell

Historian and rare newspaper and manuscript expert, Mark E. Mitchell is proud to present an unprecedented compilation of historic manuscripts, documents, newspapers, books, and photographs. 

The Mitchell Collection vividly brings to life the African-American experience from its origins in the great empires of Western Africa, through slavery and emancipation, the Harlem Renaissance, and the Civil Rights movement to contemporary America. Dating from the early 1600s through the present day, these rare pieces include many of the major people, events, and ideas that illustrate the rich heritage of Black America and its importance in the overall history of the United States. The collection was purposefully designed to present a largely visual time-line of African-American history to its viewers, as many of the pieces have been superbly framed. 

Assembled over a twenty-year period, many of the pieces included are unique; others bear hallmarks of history that have not been available on the market for over six decades. The collection contains many "firsts" such as the first book published by an African American (Phillis Wheatley), a document signed by the first black attorney to pass the bar (Macon Bolling Allen), a printed sermon on the death of George Washington delivered by the first bishop of the AME  Church (Richard Allen), and a scarce newspaper account of the first martyr of the American Revolution (Crispus Attucks). It is extremely unlikely that a collection of this magnitude could ever again be assembled. 

Parts of the Collection have already proven their value to historians, educators, curators, scriptwriters, genealogists, and students. Portions of the collection have been exhibited at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History, Morgan State University, the Freedom Forum Newseum, the National Press Club, the Metropolitan AME Church in Washington, DC, the Black Family Reunion on the Mall, the National Education Association (NEA), and the Charles Sumner Museum. The Collection has been the subject of feature articles in hundreds of newspapers and journals including The Washington Post, Washington Times, Richmond Times-Dispatch, Chicago Defender, Toledo Blade, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Atlanta Inquirer, New York Beacon, Lost Angeles Bay News Observer, and Columbia (S.C.) Black News. ABC, NBC, CBS, C-SPAN, FOX NEWS, BET and the Voice of America (VOA ) have sought out Mr. Mitchell for his vast expertise in African-American history, and to bring his collection to the public. 

The Mark E. Mitchell Collection has taken its place among an elite group of educational resources that can be used to help teach our nation the true
history of African Americans. Designed to be the centerpiece for a museum as well as a superb touring exhibition, the Collection can also serve as a
financial development tool to raise funds for scholarships, educational and community programs, and acquisition and preservation of rare documents and artifacts. Many scholars have noted that the ever-expanding Collection is proving to be an excellent research archive owing to the scope and accessibility of the original materials. 

Perhaps Chris Haley said it best after his initial visit to meet with Mr. Mitchell and view the Collection: "The materials you have assembled would draw tears to the eyes of wizened African-American scholars and paint wonder on the faces of grade school children. . . . There is no doubt such a collection demands to be made accessible to as many people of all races as possible. What you have gathered dramatically emphasizes what my uncle (Alex Haley) and other prominent black figures have said, 'To know where you're going, you've got to know where you've been."

Joel A. Freeman, Ph.D.

Accomplished author. Internationally sought-after conference speaker and workshop facilitator. Professional counselor. Success coach to executives.  Behavioral analyst. Organizational culture change specialist. Corporate trainer. Motivational consultant and mentor to pro athletes. Off-key singer. Multiculturally astute. Passionate about dynamic, fun-filled excellence. No Bull.  No Hype. 

Over 100  Kings and Queens of the continent of Africa attended a Pan African conference in Benin, West Africa -- addressing topics like tribal warfare, conflict resolution and the AIDS crisis (August 2002). Dr. Freeman was a keynote speaker at this conference. He also got a lot of footage for an upcoming film he is producing about the past, present and future of African kingdoms.

Dr. Freeman co-authored the book, RETURN TO GLORY: THE POWERFUL STIRRING OF THE BLACK MAN. Endorsed by Bill Cosby, Julius Erving, Ben Carson, Joe Frazier and many others, this unique book is about black heritage and cross-cultural understanding. Freeman is white and co-author, Don Griffin is African American. The message of this book has resonated with people of all ethnic backgrounds. It is well researched and reader-friendly.

Out of the experience of writing this book has come a strong diversity program and a well-received half-day  Black History presentation, with PowerPoint, entitled "A WHITE MAN'S JOURNEY INTO BLACK HISTORY"™. This presentation has been enthusiastically received at NASA, USDA, Seattle Port Authority, BIG and a number of other organizations. 

Born in Maine (1954) and raised in a small town in Alberta, Canada, Joel A. Freeman brings a rich reservoir of personal experience blended with contagious enthusiasm, clarity and down to earth humor to empower people from diverse walks of life with improved communication skills and maximized productivity.

A seasoned, world class veteran, Joel has an impressive list of satisfied clients ranging from the Prime Minister of Grenada and senior officials of Barbados to NASA, GE, EMI, Ikea, National Security Agency, US Sentencing Commission, Billboard Music Group, Black Public Relations Society, many pro athletes, and others around the globe. 

With well over 350,000 copies in print, Freeman’s five books and three videos have received rave reviews worldwide, endorsed by the likes of Bill Cosby, Julius (Dr. J) Erving, Ben Carson and Billy Graham -- books published in twenty two (22) foreign translations:

For 19 wonderful seasons Freeman served as veteran mentor/chaplain for NBA’s Washington Bullets / Wizards ('79-'98). Quite a number of pro athletes from basketball and hockey to football and baseball have consulted with him on a variety of personal and professional matters.

Listed in Marquis Who's Who in the World, Dr. Freeman holds a master of science degree in the field of counseling from Loyola College (Baltimore) and also a Ph.D. in the same discipline.

As a State of Maryland Board certified professional counselor and behavioral analyst, he specializes in equipping individuals with the tools to create proactive, motivated personal and business environments. His initiatives in government agencies, the corporate world, small businesses, and nonprofit organizations have received exceptional evaluations and references because of his articulate, entertaining, and thought-provoking style of communication.

A student of human behavior, Joel gets great delight out of watching "the lights go on" as people of all shapes, sizes, and colors increase the quality of their understanding about themselves and others. 

Dr. Joel Freeman

First Session -- "A White Man's Journey Into Black History" -- 90 minutes
View Program

Mark Mitchell

Second Session -- "Genuine Artifacts Documenting African American History" -- 90 minutes
View the documents from the largest collection of African American documents in the world

MARIAN ANDERSON - vintage signed photograph.

THE AMISTAD SLAVE SHIP MUTINY - graphic woodcut illustration from the 1840 New Haven pamphlet (included).

CRISPUS ATTUCKS - 1770 Boston Gazette describing the death of the first black martyr during the legendary "Boston Massacre."

BLACK SOLDIERS IN THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION - (1775-1783) - archive of over 140 documents (many signed) for ninety African-American soldiers who fought alongside white patriots for the freedom and independence of the United States; includes a rare powder horn used by a black soldier.

BENJAMIN BANNEKER - original signature and one of the few newspaper accounts ever published about the noted astronomer and mathematician.

MEDGAR EVERS - letter to Gloster Current, the last man to see Evers alive.