February 21, 2007
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Profile America for the 21st day of Black History Month. Augusta Savage knew at an early age that she wanted to be a sculptor. Winning a prize at a county fair in Florida in 1919 only made her more certain of her career. Moving to New York, she became part of the flourishing Harlem arts scene. A sculpture of her nephew won a coveted fellowship in 1929 and the opportunity to study in Paris for a year. Upon her return, she began teaching and opened a studio so African- Americans could learn about their culture by studying fine arts and opened the first African- American art gallery in New York. In the U.S., there are more than 24,000 art dealers, who sell over $5 billion in paintings, sculpture and drawings each year. This special Profile America for Black History Month is a public service of the U.S. Census Bureau.