Black History Month Highlights Past Victories and Hope for the Future

(The following was submitted by NY State Assemblymember Amy Paulin) Since 1976, February has been celebrated as National Black History Month. We use this time to honor the brave activists who fought against racial discrimination and oppression, as well as the artists, leaders and innovators who’ve left an indelible mark on our nation. As we reflect on these pioneers, we must keep in mind that the battles fought by these trailblazers of history are still being fought today.

While the struggle for equal rights and fair treatment cannot be pinned down to any one location, New York State is home to several key landmarks and milestones in Black history. During the Dutch and Indian War in 1644, the farms of 11 Black freedmen spanned most of central Manhattan, eventually earning them enough money to buy the freedom of their still-enslaved children. Later, historic Weeksville, Brooklyn, became the largest pre-Civil War community of free Black Americans in the United States. Many of the stops on the Underground Railroad were also located in New York, including abolitionist and freedman Frederick Douglass’ house in Rochester, the last stop on the Railroad before Canada. Harriet Tubman, one of the most prominent and effective conductors, helped hundreds of enslaved people escape their captors and settled in Auburn, N.Y., later in her life.

From poet, playwright and novelist Langston Hughes, to anthropologist and writer Zora Neale Hurston and prolific composer Duke Ellington, New York was also the birthplace of the Harlem Renaissance, which is widely credited with revitalizing Black culture through art, music and writing. The far-reaching effects of this cultural explosion would later influence future activists such as James Baldwin, a Harlem-born novelist and essayist who tackled both Black liberation and the struggles of the LGBTQ community in his writings.

More recently, New York served as the home of Shirley Chisholm, the first Black woman elected to the United States Congress. In addition to representing New York’s 12th Congressional District for seven years, Ms. Chisholm became the first Black candidate to run for President of the United States, as well as the first woman to run for her party’s presidential nomination. We also saw history made with the election of Vice President Kamala Harris, the first Black woman to hold the position in the United States.

Despite all the progress made by these influential activists, artists and politicians, racism and discrimination still permeate American society. As New York State Assembly Health Committee Chair, I also see this disparity in health care. In particular I have been focused on improving New York’s maternal morbidity and mortality rates, which disproportionately affect women of color. The New York City Commission on Human Rights has also released a report featuring testimonials from Black New Yorkers explaining that racism was “inescapable and emotionally taxing” in their day-to-day lives.

Black History Month serves as a time to not only honor and remember the victories of the past, but to motivate us to continue on the path toward true equality. Together, we can continue the work started by our pioneering activists and finally bring their goals – and our country’s founding ideals – to fruition.

As always, my door is open. If you have any questions about this or any other community issue, please don’t hesitate to reach out and contact my office at [email protected] or at 914.723.1115.

Also commenting on Black History Month, Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins said, ""Black History Month is a time to reflect on the resilience, achievements and cultural impact of Black Americans throughout our Nation’s history. Westchester County is home to generations of Black leaders, artists, educators and activists who have helped shape our communities. From the stories of freedom seekers who traveled through our region on the Underground Railroad to the influential voices advocating for civil rights today, Westchester’s Black history is deeply rooted.

"As we celebrate this month, Let’s also recognize the ongoing work toward equity and inclusion that must continue. I encourage everyone to participate in the many events across the County, visit historic landmarks and engage in discussions that help us continue the progress we've made."