Mapping The African American Past (maap)

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

Rocky Point Rocky Point is a hamlet located in northern Brookhaven Town. Today, it is a typical suburban settlement characterized by strip malls and shopping areas along North Country Road and residential neighborhoods to the north of this main road. In the 19th century, however, it was a rural, farming community and home to a small settlement of African Americans.

Samuel Ballton Samuel Ballton was a well-respected citizen of Greenlawn in the Town of Huntington. It was in 1899 that Ballton was crowned the "Pickle King." His efforts produced an amazing crop of 1.5 million pickles in a single season. Ballton, however, had already led a remarkable life and went on to leave a unique legacy.

1538 Woodrow Road On February 23, 1828, Captain John Jackson purchased land in a place known as Sandy Ground on what is now Staten Island.

515 Malcolm X Blvd The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture holds one of the best library collections focused on black history in the world.

Kellie Jones, Associate Professor, Columbia University, discusses the Shomberg Library.

Central Park near West Drive & 85th Street As a community of free black property owners, Seneca Village was unique in its day.

Seneca Village Community Commentary by Cynthia Copland

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

409 W. 141st St. The Shiloh Presbyterian Church boasts a long tradition of radical black leadership.

Maiden Place In the early 1700s, New York had one of the largest slave populations of any of England’s colonies.

74 Canal Street In 1797, a baby girl named Isabella was born in upstate New York.

31 Centre Street The congregation of St. Philip’s has roots that reach back to 1704.

Kellie Jones, Associate Professor, Columbia University, discusses St. Philip's Episcopalian Church.

144 W 125th St From before this nation was formed, Africans and their descendants have contributed enormously to American culture.

Kellie Jones, Associate Professor, Columbia University, discusses The Studio Museum in Harlem.

122 Pearl Street Lewis and Arthur Tappan were brothers who earned a fortune importing silk from Asia.

Pearl St. between Whitehall Street and Broad Street On an August day in 1664, the Dutch ship Gideon reached the Great Dock in New Amsterdam.

40 Wall Street The Manhattan Company was formed to bring fresh water to New Yorkers. Or at least that was its stated purpose.

Wall Street and Water Street In 1711, New York was growing quickly, and the growing needs of the city were often supplied by slave labor.