Honoring the Pearses: Freeport couple’s legacy preserved at Nassau’s African American Museum

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The Joysetta and Julius Pearse African American Museum of Nassau County stands as a living testament to the visionary leadership of the Pearses, a Freeport couple whose dedication to preserving Black history and empowering their community made a powerful impact.

In recognition of their extraordinary contributions, what was then the African American Museum of Nassau County was renamed in their honor in May 2021.

For nearly six decades, the Pearses served both Freeport and Greater Nassau County with distinction. Julius made history in 1962 as the first African-American officer in the Freeport Police Department. His early days on the force were fraught with discrimination, yet he endured.

“They just gave him a gun, they gave him a shirt that didn’t fit, and the guy at the office wouldn’t look at him in the face,” Anthony Richards, a friend of the Pearses’ and a museum attendant, said. Julius waited until his probation was over to confront the discriminatory behavior.

“He told his partner, ‘You’re going to stop calling me the N-word, because I would hate for my gun to go off by accident,’” Richards recounted.

Pearse’s boldness helped him earned the respect of his fellow officers, and he eventually earned the rank of detective before retiring in 1983.

During his law enforcement career, Pearse co-founded the Coalition for a Better Freeport and, alongside Joysetta, organized the first Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Celebration at Freeport High School in 1981 — two years before the holiday was nationally recognized.

After his retirement, Julius and Joysetta founded Jul-Joy Associates, a private investigative firm that served the Freeport area until 2002. The couple’s passion for uncovering hidden histories led them to establish the African Atlantic Genealogical Society in 1994, a nonprofit dedicated to helping African-Americans trace their ancestral roots.

“Mrs. Pearse started (the organization), which was to help people trace their roots and history for families,” Minna Dunn, the director of art and curator at the museum, said. Their groundbreaking genealogical work has helped over 300 people uncover their personal histories, revealing connections to notable figures such as Queen Philippa of England, former Secretary of State Colin Powell and even former President George H.W. Bush.

The Pearses first came to the African American Museum of Nassau County as vendors in 1998, when the museum offered the Genealogical Society office space. It was the perfect setting for their mission to preserve and promote Black history. Under their leadership, the museum became a vital educational resource, featuring exhibits that highlighted little-known African-Americans, such as Lewis Temple, the blacksmith who revolutionized the whaling industry with his invention of the Temple toggle in 1829.

Beyond their museum work, the Pearses’ influence extended deep into the community. Joysetta, a Brooklyn native, had a passion for history and genealogy, and uncovered hidden narratives and ensured they would be shared with future generations. Her efforts to educate and inspire young people about their heritage have made an enduring impact.

Joysetta died in 2021, at age 83, and Julius died on Dec. 15, at 91.

When asked what people could do to honor their legacy, Richards said, “By remembering the greatness (of) what they have accomplished, what they meant to the community, all that they have achieved, the legacy of what they created (and by) keeping the museum up and running.

“The museum existed before them,” Richards added. “But they were the ones who kind of changed it to a hidden history, and got it to the point where it is today.”

The Pearses’ contributions to Black history, both locally and nationally, continue to be celebrated. Their work serves as a reminder of the power of history, perseverance and community.