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African American History

Anna Murray-Douglass: Frederick’s Most Important Ally

August 4, 2020 by Rose O'Keefe Leave a Comment

Anna Murray-DouglassI offer the following tribute to Anna Douglass, first wife of Frederick Douglass and mother of their five children, on the anniversary of her death Aug. 4, 1882:

Both Frederick Bailey and Anna Murray were born in rural Maryland in the early 1800s and grew up under harsh racist customs that strictly defined roles for men and women by sex, race and class.

By the time Frederick and Anna met in the 1830s in Baltimore, his owner valued him as a slave who was a skilled caulker. Yet Anna, despite being a free woman skilled as a domestic and cook, was not well paid by her white employers. [Read more…] about Anna Murray-Douglass: Frederick’s Most Important Ally

Filed Under: History, New York City, Western NY Tagged With: Abolition, African American History, Black History, Frederick Douglass, Lake Ontario, Monroe County, New York City, Political History, Rochester, Slavery, Underground Railroad, womens history

Smithsonian Offers ‘Talking About Race’ Portal

July 9, 2020 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

 George Floyd Protest HistoryIn a short essay published earlier this week in Smithsonian Magazine, Smithsonian Institute Secretary Lonnie G. Bunch wrote that the recent killing in Minnesota of George Floyd has forced the country to “confront the reality that, despite gains made in the past 50 years, we are still a nation riven by inequality and racial division.” [Read more…] about Smithsonian Offers ‘Talking About Race’ Portal

Filed Under: Adirondacks & NNY, Capital-Saratoga, History, Hudson Valley - Catskills, Mohawk Valley, New York City, Western NY Tagged With: African American History, Black History, Crime and Justice, Cultural History, Smithsonian

Ada ‘Bricktop’ Smith: Queen of Montmarte

May 18, 2020 by Jaap Harskamp 1 Comment

ada smithHer hair was flaming red and so were her freckles. Born Ada Beatrice Queen Victoria Louise Virginia Smith on August 14, 1894 in Alderson, West Virginia, she was the youngest of four children.

“I am hundred percent American Negro with a trigger Irish temper” – as she summarized her genealogy. The “Queen Victoria” in her birth name is both puzzling and amusing, but whatever the explanation she lived her life as a royal – Queen of Montmartre. [Read more…] about Ada ‘Bricktop’ Smith: Queen of Montmarte

Filed Under: Arts, History, New York City Tagged With: African American History, Cultural History, Harlem, Jazz, Music, Musical History, New York City, Performing Arts, Social History, Theatre

African American Voting Rights History Panel Set

February 24, 2020 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

rome historical society logoThe Rome Historical Society (RHS) is set to host to a panel discussion presented by Rome’s Afro-American Heritage Association (AAHA) on Wednesday, February 26th.

The topic of this discussion will be African Americans and the Vote which is the Association for the Study of African American Life and History’s (ASALH) 2020 African American History Month theme. [Read more…] about African American Voting Rights History Panel Set

Filed Under: Events, History, Mohawk Valley Tagged With: African American History, Black History, Rome, Rome Historical Society

Rockland Co African-American Pioneer Hezekiah Easter

February 23, 2020 by Clare Sheridan Leave a Comment

crossroads of rockland historyThe February 2020 “Crossroads of Rockland History,” focused on Just Call Me Lucky, a new book about Hezekiah Easter. Based on extensive personal interviews and written in the “as told to” style by Elizabeth Vallone, the book highlights Easter’s many contributions to the Rockand County community, including his work as the first African American to hold elected office in Rockland County, his tireless efforts to preserve Mount Moor Cemetery, and much more. [Read more…] about Rockland Co African-American Pioneer Hezekiah Easter

Filed Under: Books, History Tagged With: African American History, Black History, Books, Historical Society of Rockland County, Podcasts, Rockland County

Free Access to Online Black History Collections

February 16, 2020 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

Black History CollectionIn recognition of Black History Month, Fold3.com is making the records in its Black History Collection available for free through the end of February. [Read more…] about Free Access to Online Black History Collections

Filed Under: History Tagged With: African American History, Black History

Peterboro Announces Black History Programs

February 13, 2020 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

Emancipation Day wreath layingPeterboro Heritage NY sites have announced Black History programs celebrating the 150th Anniversary of the 15th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution which was ratified February 3, 1870 stating The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude. [Read more…] about Peterboro Announces Black History Programs

Filed Under: Events, History, Western NY Tagged With: African American History, Black History, Peterboro

New York Urban League: 100 Stories

February 12, 2020 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

New york historical societyThe New-York Historical Society has announced “New York Urban League: 100 Stories of Black New York,” a program set for Thursday, February 20th, 2020.

For over 100 years the New York Urban League (NYUL) has helped lead the way in the empowerment of under-served African Americans across the five boroughs of New York City. They have inspired, influenced, and ignited –  and each year invest in the lives of over 8,000 families by providing quality higher education options, economic opportunity, and community engagement. [Read more…] about New York Urban League: 100 Stories

Filed Under: Events, History, New York City Tagged With: African American History, Black History, New York City, New York Historical Society

Honoring African Americans in NYC Parks

February 11, 2020 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

Children Playing Ping Pong in 1943 provided by NYC ParksMany of New York City’s parks and monuments honor African Americans who have shaped the landscape of our culture. Monuments and green spaces of all sizes, from Marcus Garvey Park in Manhattan to Hattie Carthan Community Garden in Brooklyn, pay tribute to the contributions and lives of notable African Americans from the 18th century to the 21st. [Read more…] about Honoring African Americans in NYC Parks

Filed Under: History, New Exhibits, New York City Tagged With: African American History, Black History, New York City

African Burial Ground Marking Black History Month, 10 Years

February 3, 2020 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

crusade for voters provided by African Burial Ground National MonumentThe African Burial Ground National Monument is set to celebrate Black History Month throughout February 2020 with an array of activities and events. This year’s theme is African-Americans and the Vote.

The African Burial Ground National Monument is a monument in the Civic Center section of Lower Manhattan. The site contains the remains of more than 400 Africans buried during the late 17th and 18th centuries in a small portion of what was the largest colonial-era cemetery for people of African descent, some free, most enslaved.

[Read more…] about African Burial Ground Marking Black History Month, 10 Years

Filed Under: History, New York City Tagged With: African American History, African Burial Ground National Monument, Black History, Black History Month, New York City

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