African American Museum and Center for Applied Art
JOYSETTA & JULIUS PEARSE AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NASSAU COUNTY
The Joysetta and Julius Pearse African American Museum of Nassau County celebrates the history and culture of Black Americans throughout Long Island and the country. It offers many community-based events, including celebrations of Black History Month, Kwanzaa and Juneteenth, and showcases the lives of historical figures including Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X.
The Museum’s concept began in 1968 when Nassau Community College Professor Leroy Leonardo Ramsey set up an exhibit at the school for Black History Month. It became a permanent display, periodically updated with artifacts from Professor Ramsey’s personal collection. Eventually needing more space, it moved to a Main Street location in Hempstead. In 1985, Nassau County purchased a building at 110 North Franklin Street in Hempstead and renovated it to house the exhibit, opening in September 1985 as the African American Museum of Nassau County.
In 2021, the museum was renamed after its longtime director, Joysetta Pearse, and her husband, Julius Pearse, a descendant of slaves. Joysetta passed in 2021 and Julius passed in 2024.
In October, 2025 following a renovation of the museum’s gallery spaces and facade, County Executive Bruce A. Blakeman rededicated the museum as the The Joysetta and Julius Pearse African American Museum of Nassau County, while unveiling a stunning new portrait of the Pearses, painted by Nassau County resident Tolu Ayorinde.
The Museum showcases the work of local and national Black artists and preserves Black history through a series of rotating exhibits, screenings, lectures and workshops. Exhibitions have featured portraits of prominent Black leaders and famed jazz performers, and brings to light the hidden contributions of Black Americans through exhibits such as “The Women of NASA.”
In the museum’s music preservation project, the Museum houses an album collection of more than 500 LPs, 300 45s and 100 78s, all featuring the work of Black musicians.
In 2005, American Legacy Magazine awarded the Museum Preservation Award to the Museum for its work to preserve African American history and culture.
Just before her death, Joysetta told Newsday: “I wanted to bring information to people about those who did wonderful things, but no one knew anything about them. So many Black people had been told they had no history except that they were slaves. That makes you feel either ashamed or angry. I wanted to show a more balanced view.”