February 01, 2021
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New York State Parks Highlights Black History Month |
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Events, Places, Programs and Virtual Content Features African American Impacts on State History Niagara Falls To Be Illuminated
New Yorkers can help celebrate African American contributions to state history through a series of events, programming and visits to State Parks and historic sites during Black History Month. “We support Governor Andrew Cuomo’s commitment to better telling the undertold stories of African Americans who helped shape our state’s diverse history,” said Erik Kulleseid, commissioner of state Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. “During Black History Month in February, I welcome visitors to take advantage of our displays, events, virtual programming and online content, as well as through safe, socially-distanced outdoor visits to our sites related to this important aspect of our common heritage.” Under Governor Cuomo’s “Our Whole History” Initiative, which aims to broaden interpretations at state historic sites, Parks this year will designate Philipse Manor Hall State Historic Site as the first state historic site dedicated to the 400-year experience of African Americans in New York. The Westchester County former Colonial estate was once home to enslaved Africans who labored there and exhibitions at the site will be expanded to include interpretation of that enslavement, the Underground Railroad abolitionist effort, emancipation, the Great Migration, and the Civil Rights movement to celebrate the countless ways in which African Americans have contributed to our shared culture.
Black History Month traces its origins to 1915 and the national 50th anniversary emancipation celebration in Chicago, where African American historian, author and journalist Carter G. Woodson staged a history exhibit. In1926, Woodson selected the second week in February for Negro History Week as a nationwide event. It grew into a month-long celebration and was federally recognized by President Gerald Ford in 1976 during the U.S. Bicentennial. To learn more about Dr. Woodson’s life and work, and his founding of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH), visit https://asalh.org. At Niagara Falls State Park, the falls will be illuminated in red, black and green to mark Black History Month on February 13, beginning at 6 p.m., for a 15-minute period at the top of the hour continuing through 11 p.m. As part of Governor Cuomo’s initiatives to better recognize contributions of prominent African Americans, state Parks opened Shirley Chisholm State Park in Brooklyn, named for the first African American Congresswoman and first woman to run for U.S. President; dedicated Marsha P. Johnson State Park in Brooklyn (the former East River State Park) in honor of the transgender woman of color who advocated for the LGBTQ+ and HIV/AIDS communities; and installed a statue of 19th century abolitionist and suffragette Sojourner Truth at the Walkway over the Hudson State Historic Park in Highland. Events and programming scheduled for February include:
Virtual events include:
Facebook posts on African American related events at Parks include:
The State Parks Blog also has recent posts on African American historical items, including the Dutch colonial-era African American holiday of Pinkster, 19th century abolitionist Sojourner Truth and her life in the Hudson Valley, the 19th century emancipation holiday of Juneteenth, and the role of African American leadership in the Civilian Conservation Corps in New York State during the Great Depression. State Parks is posting a webpage outlining these items and more online at https://parks.ny.gov/history/black-history/default.aspx. The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation oversees more than 250 individual parks, historic sites, recreational trails and boat launches, which were visited by a record 78 million people in 2020. A recent university study found that spending by State Parks and its visitors supports $5 billion in output and sales, 54,000 private-sector jobs and more than $2.8 billion in additional state GDP. For more information on any of these recreation areas, call 518-474-0456 or visit parks.ny.gov, connect on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.
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