Macon Magazine

Harold Young credits being in the right place at the right time — as well as decades of marketing and event experience — as leading to his role at the Tubman Museum. A native of Los Angeles and a Macon resident of nearly 12 years, Young worked in the entertainment industry for most of his career. A er serving in the Marines, he worked at Motown Records, Zoo Entertainment, the Charts Music Magazine and served as the urban marketing manager at Skechers USA, where he was responsible for product placement in movies and videos and presenting the brand to celebrities such as Halle Berry, Eddie Murphy and Whitney Houston. Get to know Harold Young, executive director of the Tubman Museum BY RENEE CORWINE He and his family — he's married and the father of six children — moved to Macon in 2008 when he was hired to serve as minister of music at Community Church of God. He also served as a radio host for Praise 99.5 FM. Young met former Tubman executive director Andy Ambrose in 2014. "The museum was looking for someone in marketing, along with experience in events, and I just happened to be at the right place at the right time," Young said. He was originally hired at the Tubman as the special events manager, organizing all rentals for major events such as the Pan African Festival and All That Jazz. When Ambrose retired, Young served as interim director before being named executive director in January. Learn more about him in this QA. WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO YOU TO LEAD THE TUBMAN MUSEUM? To be an executive director of the Tubman Museum means so much to me. It's an honor and privilege to be the first African-American director for such a place that explores and celebrates history. I am truly grateful for this opportunity. WHY IS THE TUBMAN MUSEUM A PLACE FOR EVERYONE? African-American history is American history, and all should be exposed to it. The African-American history/experience is not glamorous or pretty. It explores our struggles, pain and disappointments, as well as our victories and triumphs. It needs to be shared and told through the eyes of African-Americans. HOW HAS THE TUBMAN MUSEUM EVOLVED? The museum has grown from its smaller 8,400-square-foot location to our current 49,000-square-foot location, and is currently finding ways to serve a diverse audience. We want the museum to become more innovative, more technology- and media-savvy 82 maconmagazine.com | JUNE/JULY 2021

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