The Du Bois Freedom Center

04/21/2026

DFC is deeply grateful to have participated in the inaugural Berkshire Book Con on April 18 at the Berkshire Athenaeum.

Our amazing History and Interpretive Fellow, Marcus P. Smith .dekimbe represented us with a thoughtful mini-exhibit on W. E. B. Du Bois.

Thank you to the for having us, and to everyone who visited our booth, spoke with .dekimbe , and took the time to learn more about DFC—we truly appreciate your engagement and support ☺️

03/18/2025

Exhibit at the MA Statehouse honoring the efforts of Black Americans in US military efforts.

02/23/2025

The windows in our new space, the W. E. B. Du Bois Center for Freedom and Democracy Field Office.

11/30/2024

Sandra Burton (Williams College Lipp Family Director of Dance and Senior Lecturer in Dance) with Ailey II's artistic director Francesca Harper and Ailey II dancers at the performance of Ailey II, the final event in our Reflections On Democracy Series, Democracy and the Arts, the The Du Bois Center for Freedom & Democracy co-presented with the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center.

Please donate to support our work today, uplifting Black History, Arts, Intellectual traditions, and expresssion.

Link in bio to donate. Or mail a check to the W. E. B. Du Bois Center for Freedom & Democracy, P. O. Box 1075, Great Barrington, MA 01230

Now accepting gifts of stock. Email [email protected] for information.

11/04/2024

Shingles going on the roof of the historic Clinton A. M. E. Zion Church, the future home of the W. E. B. Du Bois Center of Freedom and Democracy!

This is the 2nd of three stabilization phases before final buildout!

10/31/2024

We co-presented The Ailey II performances at the Mahiawe Performing Arts Center. Thanks to the team who put this together and all who supported it! From the left Diane Wortis, Dr. Camesha Scruggs, Janis Martinson, Sandra Burton, Beth Carlson.

This event was made possible by a Mellon Foundation Humanities in place grant. In addition we placed 100 tickets in the hands of BIPOC youth and organizations in the community!

10/21/2024

As a part of our Reflections on Democracy series Democracy and the Arts we co hosted a free poetry reading and book signing with the Clark Art Institute. The event was moderated by former Du Bois Freedom Center board president Chris Himes, and featured poets  Iain Haley Po***ck and Nathan McClain. Po***ck read from his most recent book, Ghost, Like a Place, and from a forthcoming collection. McClain, whose poetry has been described as “no-nonsense, meat and potatoes, good gotdam poetry,” also read from his work. The two poets then discuss their stylistic differences and conceptual overlap when it comes to poetry, language, race, and W.E.B. Du Bois’s concept of double consciousness. A video of the event will be available to watch in a couple of weeks!

PROGRESS on the Restoration!
- [ ] We are nearing the end of the second of three stabilization phases. By the end of November, work will be complete. This has been a long journey with multiple issues and change orders. Please consider donating today!

06/16/2024

Looking forward to commemorating with our community

FREE and open to the public! Join The Du Bois Freedom Center for their first conversation in the Reflections on Democracy series. In recognition of Juneteenth, Visiting Scholar Michael Blake and United States Congresswoman Nikema Williams will discuss how we can all "Walk in the interconnected footsteps of Dr. W. E. B. Du Bois and Congressman John Lewis," as well as the importance of civic leadership at this time in our democracy.

All are welcome to attend! Register today for this Wednesday, June 19th, 6pm, lecture! https://buff.ly/3Xk8neb.

Nikema Williams Ny Whitaker The Du Bois Freedom Center

06/15/2024

Join the Du Bois Freedom Center on Saturday, June 22nd at 10am as we launch our new community open house and guided tour series . Take a visit inside the Clinton A. M. E. Zion Church - which served as the spiritual, cultural, political, and social hub of African American life in Great Barrington for more than 130 years - and learn about the future home of the Du Bois Freedom Center. Advance registration is required via this link:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScGOq_nAaPS1YbrZTRNzNjBBg5jndnpFn0s3BPfyGNMe8bV1Q/viewform

02/08/2024

Have you heard? Following a national search funded by the Mellon Foundation, Ny Whitaker has been named executive director of The W. E. B. Du Bois Center for Freedom and Democracy. Whitaker brings decades of experience as a nonprofit executive, strategic consultant, and fundraiser to her new role leading the transformation of the historic Clinton A. M. E. Zion Church into an African American cultural and heritage center. Read the full announcement at the link below:

https://www.duboisfreedomcenter.org/news-clintonamezionchurch-theduboisfreedomcenter/2024-brings-new-leadership-for-the-center