Uncrowned Community Builders

Uhuru Love, originally named Gloria Gwendolyn Daniels by her parents Alexander and Freda Daniels, was born in Niagara Falls, New York. She graduated from the State University College at Buffalo; received a B.S. in Art Education and an M.S. from State University College at Buffalo Graduate School of Art Education. Along with her studies in the field of art, she studied music, dramatics, dance, education, psychology and religion. During the summers she studied printing and art history at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York.

From 1961-1968, she taught art education in the Niagara Falls School System at 13th St., 10th St., 5th St. 39th St., 60th St., 24th St., Evershed, and Ferry Avenue Elementary Schools and Gaskill, LaSalle, and South Junior High Schools. In conjunction with her classroom teaching experience, she also taught at the Adult Education Center, the Niagara Arts Center, the Griffon Manor Youth Center and the International Center and Girls Club.

In 1958, she began exhibiting, however it was in 1962 that her work attracted wide notice and recognition. Uhuru Love's work is in many private collections, museums, and galleries throughout the nation. Her notable one-woman exhibitions and distinguished group exhibitions number over two hundred.

In 1965, she became actively interested in the Civil Rights Revolution; adopted the name Uhuru Love, Swahili and English words meaning "freedom (is) love" and began planning for her revealing art exhibition called Uhuru Uwezo meaning in Swahili "freedom (is) power." In this year, she also became the proud recipient of an honorary Doctorate.

Uhuru Love was married to the late Al Butler, a Counselor at State University College at Buffalo, previously a Social Studies teacher in the Niagara Falls School System, a Special Agent for John Hancock Life Insurance, and a guard for the National Basketball Association Boston Celtics, New York Knickerbockers and Baltimore Bullets. A professional in his own right, Al Butler received two degrees, four New York State teaching certifications, numerous trophies, awards, honors, and citations. The family gives a scholarship each year in his name.

The Butlers have a daughter, Allyson Alexis, a son Corey Duwane James, and two grandsons, Elbert and Stanley.