New York City Commemorates Black History Month with Launch of Film Celebrating Black Lives in Early New York

avatar
by Lindsey Francy Feb 4, 2023 News
New York City Commemorates Black History Month with Launch of Film Celebrating Black Lives in Early New York

A photo of a person.

The New York City Public Design Commission launched the Epicenter, The Grounds: The Black Experience through the eyes of city hall.

In celebration of Black History month, NYC and Company launches new content on The Black Experience in NYC.

NYC & Company, the official destination marketing organization and convention and visitors bureau for New York City, is proud to support today's launch of a new film tour highlighting NYC's early Black history. Black culture is important to the identity of NYC, the city with the largest Black population in the US, and it can be felt across the five boroughs. The film tour can be found at nycgo.com/bgx and nyc.gov/design commission.

I'm excited to see this historical narrative shared with other people. Black New Yorkers will not be forgotten, and we are committed to sharing the stories of the diverse communities that make up our great city.

The Epicenter program in New York City is an important step towards restoring suppressed narratives. The first walking tour to focus on the Black experience in New York City Hall was created by the New York City Public Design Commission.

"New York City's Black communities enrich the diversity and vibrancy felt across the five boroughs, providing experiences like no other destination in the world." The untold stories of early Black New Yorkers who contributed so much to our city need to be told to locals and visitors. The launch of the new Epicenter film is supported by us, and we commend Kamau and his important stories.

The Black Gotham Experience and the New York City Public Design Commission are supported by NYC and Company. The film tells viewers about early Black history in New York City that has historically been left out of conversations but is important to the city's history and people.

Sreoshy Banerjea, Executive Director of the New York City Public Design Commission, said that Epicenter has had a positive impact on her experience working in City Hall. I want to see the film and learn more about the impact of the African diaspora on New York City and City Hall. The Epicenter program can have a big impact on New Yorkers.

In the film, viewers are shown a tour of City Hall. The history of New York, America and the world can be traced back to City Hall. The role of enslavement in this history isunderappreciated. The African diaspora had an impact on lower Manhattan from the 1600s through the early 1800s. The lives of enslaved and freed Black people under Dutch and British rule, the early days of our republic, the rebellions of 1712 and 1741, and the hidden stories of revolutionary New York will be taught to participants.

NYC & Company launched "Rising Stars of The Black Community," featuring a handful of dynamic locals leading and cultivating culture in NYC, while showcasing the vast array of expressions within the Black experience. An artist who creates beauty and sanctuary through knitting, a photographer-historian with a distinctive lens on local life, a TV network executive turned convention founder, and a Brooklyn couple are some of the people featured in Rising Stars.

The Black Experience in NYC is a hub for exploring Black culture in NYC.

The company is called NYC and Company.

NYC & Company is the official destination marketing organization and convention and visitors bureau for the City of New York, dedicated to maximizing travel and tourism opportunities throughout the five boroughs. You can find all of the things to do and see in New York City at NYCgo.com.