Mapping The African American Past (maap)

Kenneth Jackson, Jacques Barzun Professor in History and the Social Sciences, Columbia University, discusses Fraunces Tavern.

Freetown, East Hampton, Long Island Freetown is a small, unincorporated hamlet within the Town of East Hampton, located along Three Mile Harbor Road between Jackson Street and Abraham’s Path. Following the passage of the Gradual Emancipation Act of 1799 in New York State, John Lyon Gardiner and other wealthy local slave-owners settled newly freed slaves in Freetown.

Freedom's Journal Before 1827, blacks didn't exist in the newspapers, unless they committed a crime. African American weddings, births, deaths, and accomplishments were not to be found in a newspaper anywhere in the United States. But the year 1827 saw big changes. New York finally abolished slavery, and two young black men, John Brown Russwurm and Samuel E. Cornish, founded Freedom's Journal.

36 Lispenard Street Dressed as a sailor, Frederick Bailey stepped ashore a free man, but he was not safe until the great abolitionist David Ruggles took him into his home.

Freetown, East Hampton, Long Island Freetown is a small, unincorporated hamlet within the Town of East Hampton, located along Three Mile Harbor Road between Jackson Street and Abraham’s Path. Following the passage of the Gradual Emancipation Act of 1799 in New York State, John Lyon Gardiner and other wealthy local slave-owners settled newly freed slaves in Freetown.

Harlem has been a black community for over 100 years.

Dr. Manning Marable, Professor of History and Political Science and founding Director of the Institute for Research in African-American Studies at Columbia University, discusses Harlem.

Robert O'Meally, Zora Neale Hurston Professor of English, Columbia University, discusses the Harlem Renaissance.

290 Lenox Avenue, Manhattan The Harlem Community Art Center was created in November 1938. Its opening was attended by former first lady Eleanor Roosevelt, who welcomed the community’s new hub for creativity. During its brief life, the Harlem Community Art Center had a tremendous impact. Many of its students became artists who took pride in their culture and community. Paintings created by students at the Center often depicted scenes of Harlem; it was as if the students looked out a window and drew what they saw in the street.

207 Lenox Ave, Manhattan In the mid 1990s, author and community leader Geoffrey Canada conceived of a new vision for Harlem. After years of hard work with Harlem’s Rheedlen Centers for Children and Families, Canada felt that many children in poor communities were still slipping between the cracks. He decided to create a program that would uplift the entire neighborhood: the Harlem Children’s Zone.

One West 142nd Street On a cold February afternoon in 1919, thousands of people gathered along New York's Fifth Avenue and swayed to music provided by military band leader James Reese.

Kenneth Jackson, Jacques Barzun Professor in History and the Social Sciences, Columbia University, discusses the 369th Street Armory.

143 Nassau Street Harriet Tubman, or “Moses” as some called her, was worth $40,000 to anyone who could capture her and return her south.

Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Commencement Speech for Hofstra University. On June 13th 1965, Martin Luther King, Jr. was Hofstra University’s honoree and guest speaker. King focused on the need for active participation to end racial inequality, poverty and war.

Hofstra University, Hempstead, Long Island Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke to several Long Island audiences in 1965, but on June 13th his commencement speech at Hofstra University stirred up a wide variety of community sentiments.

Liberty and Trinity In the spring of 1741, all eyes were on a tavern at the corner of Liberty and Trinity Streets.

Kenneth Jackson, Jacques Barzun Professor in History and the Social Sciences, Columbia University, discusses Hughson's Tavern.

93 West Broadway In 1824, the aged Revolutionary War hero General Lafayette returned to America for a tour of the nation he had helped to forge.

John Street Church At the opening of the John Street Methodist Church, the priest addressed "those in the gallery," welcoming the African Americans. The segregated black worshipers could cook the food, clean the homes, and care for the children of the white worshipers, but they could not pray together with them.

Kenneth Jackson, Jacques Barzun Professor in History and the Social Sciences, Columbia University, discusses the John Street Church.