Sticking with the idea of researching and learning more about American History, and just staying current with ongoing cultural education, I’ve found a really cool story about a predominantly black owned village that existed in “now Central Park area” from 1825-1857. The Story of Seneca Village.
Seneca Village | Central Park Conservancy (centralparknyc.org)
According to the reports, this group of African Americans used the area of what is now West 82nd to West 89th Street to get away from tense racial conditions in downtown Manhattan. They built their own thriving community, owning homes which gave them voting rights.
Evidence shows there were gardens, livestock, a fresh natural water source, a school, burial grounds, and up to 50 homes by the mid-1850s. Records show that there were approximately 225 residents by 1855, 2/3’s African American, 1/3 Irish, and some German Immigrants. (Central Park Conservancy 1/18/2018 report)
Sadly, the City of NY allowed for eminent domain, the law that lets government take private land for public use with compensation paid to landowner. The residents of Seneca Village were evicted.
Watch Sunday Morning: Seneca Village: The historic settlement that disappeared – Full show on CBS
It’s amazing to hear about minority attempts and successes throughout American History to rise above poverty; But it’s disheartening to see how a lot of the attempts were dismantled and never heard of again.
Hopefully these stories do make it to the history books soon, not to bring people to anger, but to help boost communities’ spirits back up, to help restore the confidence in personal abilities.
Live, Laugh, Love with everything you’ve got while you still can! 💜✨ Thank you so much for stopping by. I truly appreciate and value you all here.
