Slavery in the Hudson Valley

In preparation for the development of a Quadricentennial project recognizing the contributions made by people of African descent to the city and state of New York, I've met with members of the Mid-Hudson Anti-Slavery History Project, and the Dutchess County Historical Society Black History Committee, to learn as much as I can about the African presence here in Dutchess county, and the Hudson Valley region in general. Since the discovery of the African Burial Ground back in 1991, I have been fascinated with the history of Africans here in New York. When I was working with the Harlem Center for Education I designed an interactive presentation about the first enslaved Africans in what was once the colony of New Amsterdam, which gave me the opportunity to learn about what life was like for my African ancestors.

Like many New Yorkers I thought slavery was an institution that existed in the South. When I learned that slavery was an integral part of New York's development I became even more intrigued by the various stories, documents, literature, artifacts, etc. that allowed me to peer into the past.

I have been asked to come up with ideas for the Quadricentennial that will educate people about the significant contributions made by Africans to the development of "The Empire State". Since the Quadricentennial will commemorate Henry Hudson's historic sail, I came up with the idea of focusing on the history of people of African descent within the maritime trade. My goal is to partner with some of the organizations that are involved with educating the public about the maritime trade, such as the South Street Seaport.