My Collection of African American Firefighter Figurines

Last month, my wife and I traveled to Cincinnati, Ohio, to attend the biennial convention of the International Association of Black Professional Fire Fighters (IABPFF). I have been a proud member of this organization for the past 43 years.

I attended this year’s convention for a very special reason: to offer for sale the collection of African American firefighter figurines I have assembled since joining the Buffalo Fire Department in 1983. Rather than repeatedly explain why I decided to part with the collection, I distributed a flyer that told its story:

I began collecting African American firefighter figurines in 1983, the same year I joined the Buffalo Fire Department. Over the years, I have assembled a collec tion that is both unique and deeply meaningful to me. Many of the figurines are rare, and several are one-of-a kind. Nearly all of them were purchased through eBay after years of searching.

As I approach my last alarm, I have come to realize that I want this collection to go to my brothers and sisters in the fire service, people who will truly appreciate its artistry, history and signifi cance. African American firefighters understand the pride, dedication and sacrifice represented by these figures.

Throughout most of our nation’s history, Black firefighters were rarely repre sented in artwork, collectibles or popular culture. That makes these figurines more than simple decorations. Each one represents our presence, our service and our contributions to the firefighting profession.

As a former chapter president of the MOCHA Society of Buffalo, part of the IABPFF Northeast Region, I was proud that our chapter hosted IABPFF conventions in 1986 and 2002. I have long admired and supported the association and its mission. Even after retiring from the Buffalo Fire Department in 2003, my respect and appreciation for the organization have never diminished.

The figurines are being offered for approximately what I originally paid for them. My purpose is not to make a profit. My greatest hope is to see the collection preserved and appreciated by people who share our profession, heritage and pride.

I encourage other firefighters to consider starting collections of their own—or to give one of these figurines as a gift to a special firefighter. They would make wonderful retirement gifts, awards or personal reminders of the important place African Americans hold within the fire service. These figurines have brought me tremendous pride and enjoyment over the years. Now, it is time for them to find new homes, where they can continue telling our story for generations to come.

By the end of our stay, we had sold 80% of our figurines and probably broke even, which was better than I had expected. But most important I came away with a renewed since of pride and brother hood with the International Association of Black Profes sional Firefighter.