L. Blockson

From the time I was a young boy from the Cherry Street neighborhood in Norristown PA I knew of ‘Charlie’ Blockson’s athletic prowess in football & track and field. I only found out in the past few years from one of his best friends Robert ‘Bob’ Butera, what kicked off Blockson’s storied career.

Bob said that ‘Charlie’s’ 4th grade teacher at Gotwals Elementary School, told him “Negroes don’t have any history”. Henceforth he went on to become a distinguished author, collector of books, artifacts, art, and other notable materials related to the history and culture of African Americans, which led him to a distinguished career in preserving history of the United States.

The renown Charles L. Blockson Temple University Collection (@ Temple & Penn State locations) showcases his celebrated career… now his beloved hometown’s Charles L. Blockson Exhibit is ‘continuing’ his story just blocks from his childhood first home.

The Exhibit was developed locally by the Elmwood Park Zoo, under the leadership of Executive Director& CEO Mr. Albert Zone Jr., a Norristown native son and civic leader.

Mr. Blockson introduced me to Norristown African American history when we were preparing to honor him at a NAACP Black History Month Celebration & Luncheon several years back. He made me aware of Frederick Douglass, Henry ‘Box’ Brown, Lucretia Mott, and William Still’s (aka Peter Freedman, the conductor of the Underground Railroad movement in the Philadelphia area) visits to Norristown. All were part of the Pennsylvania Anti-Slavery Society founded in 1850. Meetings were hosted by the 1st Baptist Church of Norristown then located at Airy & Swede Streets and now on Burnside Avenue, West Norriton PA.

By Ernie Hadrick, Jr , M.Ed. Morgan State University ‘74

Center, has never had a street or building named after an African American. The Norristown Area School District, in collaboration with Zone and Mr. Blockson’s family, will be officially renaming Thomas J. Stewart Middle School to the Charles Blockson Middle School later this year.

Additionally, Joseph K. Gotwals Elementary School will be renamed the Alice L. Davenport Elementary School. Mrs. Davenport was an extraordinary African

American educator and community leader.

If we want to see the Exhibit prosper and continue to tell ‘unknown‘ local, regional, and national African American history, we must show our generosity to this huge leap forward in Norristown, the County Seat of Montgomery County PA.

Please take a few minutes to peruse the information linked below and learn ways in which you can extend your generosity to the Norristown’s Charles L. Blockson Exhibit!