Welcome

Dear Friends,

I would like to introduce you to the Friends of Allensworth, a volunteer association dedicated to increasing the awareness of the historical contributions that African Americans have made towards the development of the State and Nation. We are organized as a non-profit 501(c) 3 corporation. The town of Allensworth is very unique in that it is the only California town to be founded, financed and govern by African Americans. Allensworth is a town located 75 miles south of Fresno and 38 miles north of Bakersfield.

The town of Allensworth is now preserved as Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park of the State of California Park System. Efforts to restore the towns appearance are underway to recreate a time when Black pioneers, a mighty people of courage and vision, first settled the town of Allensworth. Unfortunately financial resources have been scarce and desperately necessary to preserving this worthy historical site.

As you are aware, the political climate is rapidly changing and a different attitude toward diversity has developed. It is often the popular opinion that minority spells dependency. This is an inaccurate portrayal. Minority interest has been shifted to a much lower priority in the political arena. Further, there has been a manor reversal of our moral sense as a nation that every citizen brings a positive contribution to society. The difference is the emphasis placed on that contribution. We must define a process that more accurately reflects these issues.

Reducing affirmative action in our institutions should strengthen our resolve to an affirmative solutions. This letter is addressed to you as a major player for helping to shape these changes in a positive way. We must project the positive attributes of the majority of African American that have made major sacrifices for the furtherance of this country on the global sense. Major advances in every achievement for 5this nation have a historical record of contributions by minorities too long omitted. It will require in depth research to get this data. Reading is a fundamental process to acquire it.

We have video tapes, pictures, storyboards, presentations and tours to further enhance your knowledge of this valuable information. Opportunities to show your support for California's only Historical Park, a living history lesson that recognizes the contributions made by Black pioneers to development of California include annual membership as an Ambassador for the Allensworth State Historic Park.

We hope you can take sometime to learn of the rich history of Allensworth. We encourage you to share this history with your friends, family and colleagues. We hope you will find it useful and we thank you for your interest in preserving this part of history.

Parnell Lovelace