Before it was a borough, Brooklyn was our nation’s third-largest city. Its free Black community attracted people from all walks of life who sought to establish a town rooted in a radical, anti-slavery ideology. They did so even as their freedom was threatened by systemic and structural racism, risking their safety for the sake of their city.
On May 13th, Prithi Kanakamedala will discuss her first full-length book, Brooklynites: The Remarkable Story of the Free Black Communities that Shaped a Borough, which recounts the lives of these remarkable New Yorkers and considers their lasting impact on New York City’s most populous borough, and our city today. Discover how the lessons of these past New Yorkers can help us build better futures.
