The Juanita Craft home historical marker includes a quote from the civil rights pioneer: “I had no children so I adopted the world.”
Families and history/civil-liberties fans can once again enjoy an educational field trip to the Juanita Craft Civil Rights House and Museum, which re-opened to the public in South Dallas May 20.
“The ribbon cutting ceremony was perfectly thought out, the weather was beautiful, and our friends and supporters showed up to celebrate this momentus day,” the museum announced on Facebook, while thanking the City of Dallas, Junior League of Dallas, and the Friends of Juanita J. Craft Civil Rights House & Museum for their support.
During her life, Craft became a legend especially in Dallas’ Black neighborhoods, including South Dallas and Oak Cliff. Her tireless activism changed our neighborhood and whole city for the better, advancing desegregation, equal pay for people of color, equality in health care and other civil rights.
She was the NAACP leader, Democratic Precinct Chair, Dallas City Council member and first Black woman in Texas history to be deputized as a poll tax collector — to name a few — who, along with students from Lincoln High School, famously picketed the State Fair’s Negro Appreciation Day, calling it “Negro Appeasement Day.”
Her home in South Dallas became a meeting place for Black youth, who Craft believed would shape the future of the civil rights struggle, according to museum literature. She helped organize more than 180 chapters and youth councils throughout Texas.
The museum closed in 2019 due to a broken pipe and water damage. Supporters raised funds for the historic home museum’s restoration. The refurbished rooms are filled with images, artifacts and stories about Craft’s life and legacy.
“The whole goal is that when you cross over that threshold, coming in, you’re going to be a new person going out,”Candace Thompson of Friends of Juanita Craft Civil Rights House and Museum told ABC 8 news at the opening.
Guided tours begin June 1. Tours times are: Noon, 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. Tuesday – Saturday by groups of up to 15. You can schedule yours and learn more about related programs and events here on the South Dallas Cultural Center website. The home/museum is located at 2618 Warren.
