Southampton African American Museum Hosts Champagne Brunch At Southampton Inn

The Southampton African American Museum held its summer fundraiser, a Champagne brunch, at the Southampton Inn, with event chair Jean Shafiroff and SAAM Founder and CEO Brenda Simmons.

The brunch was held to support the museum’s operations and endowment. The Southampton African American Museum, a former Black barber shop, opened on Juneteenth, 2021, and is the first African American site to be a historically designated landmark in the Village of Southampton, and the first Black barbershop to be transformed into a museum in the United States.

Several awards were presented to recognize individual excellence and community impact, including Donna Rodrick, National President of Drifters Inc., with the Community Empowerment Award; Nikki Paul, SEPA Chapter President of Drifters Inc., with the Community Empowerment Award; Marianne Morrison with the Visionary Supporter of the Arts Award; Dr. Georgette Grier-Key with the Champion of the Arts Award; and Novi Brown with the Bold Voice in the Arts Award.

The brunch followed the success of the fourth annual Art and Soul: Hamptons, a vibrant day-long celebration of Black art, culture, and community in the heart of the Hamptons, hosted in collaboration with the Southampton African American Museum, the Southampton Arts Center, and Hidden Gem NY.