A JOYFUL GATHERING PLACE

In 1915, a pair of Oberlin College graduates opened a settlement house in an area of Cleveland called “The Roaring Third,” located at the corner of East 38th Street and Central Avenue. With incredible vision, Russell and Rowena Woodham Jelliffe set out to establish a common ground where people of different races, religions, and social and economic backgrounds could come together to seek and share common ventures.

The Playhouse Settlement quickly became a magnet for some of the best African-American artists of the day. Actors, dancers, visual artists, printmakers, and playwrights all found a place where they could practice their crafts. Reflecting the strength of the Black influence on its development, the Playhouse Settlement was officially renamed Karamu House in 1941. Karamu is a word in the Swahili language meaning “a place of joyful gathering.” It became a place where families could gather, share stories, feast, and enjoy.

Notables of Karamu House not only included Langston Hughes, who was the playwright-in-residence, but also showcased the works of other writers such as Zora Neale Hurston, Lorraine Hansberry, James Baldwin, August Wilson, along with many others. Actors who honed their craft at the historical theatre were Robert Guillaume, Beverly Todd, Ivan Dixon, Ron 0' Neal, Vanessa Bell Calloway, James Pickens, Jr. and the late Ruby Dee who frequently performed at Karamu to raise funds to the place she called a significant artistic home for the black expression.

Today, Karamu's mission is to produce professional theatre, provide arts education, and present programs for all people while honoring the African American experience. We are a place of joyful gathering, where people from different races, religions, and economic backgrounds come together through the arts.

Karamu House is an important part of Cleveland History that deserves commemoration and recognition as a United States Commemorative Postage Stamp. Sign this petition to show your support for the creation of a Karamu House Commemorative Postage Stamp.