Happy Black History Month! New York offers plenty of neighborhoods, experiences and important sites for those celebrating Black history.
Jamestown and Chautauqua County played an important role in helping enslaved people escape through the Underground Railroad. The mansion, built in 1863, offers libraries filled with archives, educational resources and local history exhibits. Make sure to check out “The Underground Railroad in Chautauqua County,” which explores the story of Catherine Harris, an aid to many freedom seekers escaping enslavement and on the journey to freedom.
Jupiter Hammon was known as the founder of African American literature and was also the first published Black poet. Although he was born enslaved, he managed to learn how to read and write. The Joseph Lloyd Manor House was where he lived and wrote poetry; his first public work debuted in 1761. The manor was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976 and offers tours.
The Colored Musicians Club is the only operating African American jazz club in the United States. This hot spot for jazz and creativity was formed in 1917 due to discrimination from an all-white musicians union. Learn more about the history of the genre and jazz legends, including Billie Holiday, Lionel Hampton and more.
Harriet Tubman National Historic Park
As many know, Harriet Tubman helped countless freedom seekers travel along the Underground Railroad; she made several daring rescue trips back to the south. At the Harriet Tubman National Historic Park in Auburn, guests can dive into the history of the Underground Railroad and learn more about her journey.
Harlem
This Manhattan neighborhood became a cultural epicenter of the Black community and beyond due to The Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s. The history still lives on today at important institutions such as the Apollo Theater where artists, including Stevie Wonder and James Brown, performed in their prime. Spend the weekend exploring the Black-owned Harlem businesses and attractions.
For more information on Black History Month and ways to celebrate in New York, visit iloveny.com.
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