The East Bronx History Forum (EBHF) is pleased to announce that this month’s topic will focus on Black owned land in the Bronx in the early 1800s. The lecture will be presented by educator and art historian John Keith Doherty. This month’s meeting will be on Thursday, April 24th at 7:30 pm in the lower level of St. Clare of Assisi Church, located at 1027 Rhinelander Avenue. Parking is free and just north of the entrance on Paulding Avenue.
This talk will focus on a number of early properties in the Bronx that were owned by free Black people during and just after the era of Gradual Emancipation, when slavery was slowly being abolished (1799-1827). Though several Black-owned farms and other properties existed in the rural environs of the city in this era, the vast majority remain undocumented historically. By discussing a number of long-forgotten properties, this talk attempts to shed light on a chapter in our local history when Black individuals—many of whom had been enslaved in their youth—rose to become property owners and prosperous businesspeople. In addition to being one of the only ways of gaining genuine financial independence, land ownership was critical as the sole means of acquiring suffrage, due to a racist mandate in the state constitution that required Black men to possess at least $250 worth of property to vote.
Our presenter, John Keith Doherty is a former Professor of Art History at Boston University, where he earned his doctorate and taught for 14 years. Since returning to his native New York in 2012, his research has centered on the earliest architectural and social history of the region. In addition to his academic work, he is an educator at the Philipse Manor Hall in Yonkers, curator of a new exhibit on the Old Croton Aqueduct, and a leader of historic tours of various parts of Manhattan.
The entrance to this free event is on Paulding Avenue in Msgr. Joseph Raimondo Hall. The EBHF is a 501(c)3 non-profit chartered by the New York State Education Department. Donations are always accepted and can be made through our website BronxNYC.com. Additionally, remember to follow us on our Facebook, Instagram and Youtube account pages for the most current updates or information. We look forward to seeing you.
No comments:
Post a Comment