Vandals’ ‘sabotage’ won’t close Oak Cliff black cultural store, owner says
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Akwete Tyehimba has been a business owner in Oak Cliff for 29 years and had never been vandalized.
That is until last weekend, when vandals climbed on the roof of her store, Pan-African Connection, and damaged the four air-conditioning units.
“I could almost accept it if it was someone stealing copper,” she said. “But this was pure, intended sabotage. There was an intention to shut us down at some level.”
Walking into the 8,000-square-foot store this week has felt like a sauna, Tyehimba said. But she has not shut down the store. She recently held a children's Wakanda-themed event to inspire neighborhood kids about science.
"We have not done anything to hurt anyone. We are just here to help the community. It hurt us really bad for this to happen. It's not only hurting me but it's hurting others who come here for resources and information," Tyehimba said.
Dallas Police detectives have followed up but report no further developments about who damaged the property in the 4400 block of South Marsalis Avenue, spokeswoman Debra Webb said.
Tyehimba said no copper or coils were taken out of the air-conditioning units. The cost to replace the commercial units is about $20,000.
Pan-African Connection was created by Tyehimba and her late husband, Bandele Tyehimba. The couple began selling books and artifacts from the African diaspora, all while balancing their full-time jobs and taking turns working shifts at the store.
Their three children, Adjwoa, Bambata and Sekou, joined the family business as they got older.
Pan-African Connection grew beyond being just a store and turned into the cultural resource it is today, where children and adults can learn Swahili and take African dance and drum classes.
Tyehimba has rented fans to try to cool down the store, but it still remains hot during the 100-degree days.
The small business owner said she does not have the cash to take on all of the repairs at this time. She welcomes help from the community for any gently used commercial units or to support her GoFundMe, which had raised $1,115 out of their $13,000 goal as of Friday morning.
“There’s so many silver linings I’m trying to look at,” Tyehimba said. “The store is still open and the people are still coming.”
