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Ever since Carolyn Hoskins’ grandson asked her who else contributed to Black history other than Martin Luther King Jr., it’s been her mission to educate and celebrate her culture with the community.
The question her grandson posed more than 20 years ago is the reason she started the Domini Hoskins Black History Museum and Learning Center. But what was once a mobile pop-up museum is a step closer to securing a permanent home in Redwood City after state Sen. Josh Becker, D-Menlo Park, presented a $2 million check to the museum Friday, Feb. 2.
Becker negotiated the funds in the state Senate to ensure the museum can establish an interim location while a permanent location is determined, according to a press release.
Becker said he was impressed by the scale of collectibles in the museum.
“I want people to feel the broad range of African Americans in our society, that breath of contribution,” Becker said. “My favorite things, entrepreneurship and ideas, music and sports, are all covered. I learned a lot about many African American inventors I didn’t know about.”
With more than 22,000 square feet of artwork and memorabilia, the museum and learning center has thousands of artifacts and collectibles from genres ranging from music, politics, toys, history, inventions and sports memorabilia. Most of the collectibles are items Hoskins has collected. And they all have a story.
An hour before the check presentation event, Domini Hoskins, the museum’s namesake, walked the aisles of the museum. He points out one of his toys, a play doll, which he said he named C.J. Years later, he had a son and called him C.J. In the next few weeks, C.J.’s gift corner will open with memorabilia and little trinkets for kids to buy.
Domini Hoskins said he is proud of his grandmother and what she has built. While he could never have imagined 25 years ago that a question for his grandmother would blossom into a museum, he chuckled and said it wouldn’t surprise him.
More than a dozen people celebrated the event, and Carolyn Hoskins said she wanted it to be an intimate gathering to share the moment with her family. She said she wants everyone in the museum to leave having learned something about Black history.
“The whole point is education,” she said. “I am here to toil and tell my story about my history, which is so rich, and to let people know that African Americans have contributed so much to this great country.”
The museum and learning center is located at 890 Jefferson Ave. It is open from noon to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. Tickets for the exhibit are $10 for adults, and $5 for children under 12 or seniors over 65.
Visit the museum’s website for more information.
