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•~ The Golden VaIley Black History Committee • Marion Helland In 1968 Bill Cosby launched athought-provoking film called "Black History: Lost, Stolen, or Strayed." In that era the idea f'or Golden Valley's 131ack History Committee was born. Fueled by the Oliver Lyle case, Black and White citizens in Golden Valley began planning a Black History Committee and a Human Rights Commission. Lyle, a string bassist and student at the University of Minnesota, filed suit in U.S. District Court after being stopped nine times in six weeks by Golden Valley officers. He argued that the officers were stopping hire while he drove to and from a job in Golden Valley because he is Black. He won the case. That was 1967-1970. By 1982 the annual celebration of Black History Month was ready with goals, a mission, .funds and volunteers. 7.'his pioneering program received statewide recognition. A quote in the Minnesota Monthly (February, 1990): "It's the first time, nationally, that a white suburban area has ever formed a committee like this to celebrate Black History Month." Minneapolis/St.Paul Magazine (July, 1988): "It [Golden Valley]... enjoys a long-standing reputation as a leader in human rights: It was the first city in the country to sponsor an Annual Black History Month celebration and one of the first • suburbs to appoint a human rights commission and adopt affirmative action ~iring policies. As it ~eac~s into its second century, t~e ~uture o~ t~is communi~y looks golden indeed." The Black History Committee has: • helped more than 15,000 students a year benefit from educational programs sponsored by the Committee. Breck School, Hopkins School District 270, Robbinsdale School District 281, and St. Margaret-Mary Catholic Church School have received these programs. • established a successful model of working together betweeli schools, businesses, congregations, government and community organizations. • sponsored the first •F`amilies Sharing the Dream" in 1993. • reorganized as asub-committee of the Human Rights Commission in 1998. Until that time the Committee operated independently. • sought and received financial and volunteer support from more than forty different organizations through the years, but in 1996 and 1997 Black History Month activities were canceled due to lack of corporate sponsors. Education activities were continued ui the schools in spite of this set back. • supported skilled leaders who kept the group functioning through the years. Currently the dedicated commitment of Barbara Myers continues to keep the spirit of the Black History Committee alive. • 1