In this final session of Village Preservation’s series, Black History in Greenwich Village, we will travel from the mid-20th century to the present. The program will begin with a summary of the people, places, protests and laws that have shaped and influenced Black History in Greenwich Village between 1954 and 1965 —  a key period in the American civil rights movement between the Brown vs. Board of Education ruling and the passage of the Voting Rights and Civil Rights Acts. From street activism to revolutionary performance spaces, the lives and work of Black Americans in Greenwich Village will be celebrated and shared, giving even greater context to the impact of Black Americans on our communities and society. Examples include Bayard Rustin, Martin Luther King’s right hand and the organizer of the watershed 1963 March on Washington, who began his life as an activist after being exposed to the radically integrated and politically charged environment at legendary Village club Cafe Society.

We’ll look at how events and locations in Greenwich Village helped to keep a spotlight on civil rights and the great societal strides made in America thanks to Black Americans who lived, worked, and created art here.

NOTE: This program will not be recorded and made available for later viewing

This four session series explores the history of the black presence in the Greenwich Village area of New York City from 1600-2020. Join Village Preservation as we outline the history of African presence in Lower Manhattan.

• Register for March 4th: Session 3 – Civil Rights, Women’s Suffrage, and the Great Migration 1870 – 1950