Thursday, October 1, 2026
Surrounded by local dignitaries, elected officials, and clergy, County Executive Bruce Blakeman rededicated the Joysetta and Julius Pearse African American Museum of Nassau County.
“This is part of our history. This is part of our culture,” Blakeman said on Oct. 25. “So I’m very, very honored to be here today.”
Saturday’s rededication followed a six-week refreshment of the museum’s windows, doors, and interior that cost $135,000. The rooms and doorways have been made compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.
After Blakeman cut the blue ribbon, County Legislators Scott Davis and Olena Nicks presented the museum with a $1 million check, originally sponsored by Legislator (now State Senator) Siela Bynoe, and brought to fruition by Davis and Nicks.
All the visitors then entered a rearranged museum lobby full of light, with a spacious plexiglass reception desk.
Stepping into the largest gallery, the visitors saw walls newly hung with the colorful, bold paintings of Nigerian-American artist Toluwalope Ayorinde —”Tolu” for short.
The crowning point of the rededication ceremony was the unveiling of Tolu’s large portrait of both Pearses, evoking gasps and applause.
Tolu, who moved into West Hempstead two years ago after a career teaching high school art and displaying his works in Brooklyn, had created the double portrait at the request of Dr. Regina Williams.
“When Regina contacted me, she said, would you be willing to share your work here?” Tolu said, smiling at the portrait. “And I said, of course!”
Williams is a trustee on the Roosevelt Board of Education, and has been appointed to oversee the African American Museum by Darcy Belyea, commissioner of the county Department of Parks, Recreation, and Museums.
“We have a wall display dedicated to Joysetta,” Williams said, nodding toward a permanent mounting of photos and awards honoring Joysetta on the far wall of the gallery. “My vision for today was of doing something for the two of them together. I want to reeducate the public to remind them of the life of the Pearses.”
The Pearses’ name has been associated with civil rights leadership in the area ever since Julius became Freeport’s first black policeman in 1961. They founded the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Committee in 1981, two years before King’s birthday became a national holiday. They operated a private investigative firm called Jul-Joy Associates in Freeport until 2002.
Joysetta became a certified genealogist in 1986. The couple started The African American Genealogical Society soon after, enabling black people to establish their ancestry.
In 1998, the couple established a TAAGS office in the 28-year-old African American Museum, making it the only museum on Long Island with a genealogical center.
Meanwhile, they helped develop award-winning museum displays that emphasized the cultural and scholarly achievements of America’s black population, without neglecting their lengthy battle for freedom.
From 2012 until her death in 2021 at age 82, Joysetta was the museum director, a volunteer position. The Pearses opened the museum’s doors to educational activities and community events, while continuing the much-demanded services of TAAGS.
Julius died in December 2024, age 91.
“I worked with the Pearses for 20 years,” said Susan Jaycox, president of the Genealogy Federation of Long Island and the museum’s current genealogist-in-residence. “I feel like this rededication will bring the museum some positive attention. I love what has been done to fix the place up.”
