DETROIT, MI (August 21, 2020) - The Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History mourns the death of community leader and Museum Trustee Abdul-Musawwir Aquil, who died on August 12, 2020 at the age of 72.
“I was saddened to learn of Abdul-Musawwir's passing and send my sincerest condolences to his family and friends,” says Neil A. Barclay, CEO of The Wright. “His courage and commitment to fight the good fight was what I admired about him most as he championed causes that were dear to him. His role with our Community Advisory Board as its first Co-chair along with Lauren Hood and the legacy he left behind will forever shape the progress and decisions that we make in the future. I am grateful to have shared a brief time with him and will miss his insightful observations on how to make The Wright Museum even more impactful within the communities it serves.”
Abdul-Musawwir Aquil was an Elder of the Detroit community and was wholeheartedly dedicated to helping spread the knowledge of our vast accomplishments in history. Not only was he a member of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH), he was also the First Vice President of the Midwest Board of the Association for the Study of Classical African Civilizations (ASCAC), and was selected in 2019 to the Board of Trustees of the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History.
Eric Peterson, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, issued the following statement. “From the moment I interviewed him as a prospective member of the Board, his commitment to excellence, passion, and dedication to telling ‘our history’ was very apparent and contagious. Once becoming a member of the Board of Trustees, he immediately brought ideas and suggestions on how we could better serve the community. We’re going to truly miss him, but his spirit will continue to challenge us to look for ways to do more in educating our children and teaching them about their rich and proud heritage.”
Details on funeral arrangements are forthcoming.
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Contact:
Edward Foxworth, III, Director of External Affairs
Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History
efoxworth@thewright.org