Upcoming Events
Exhibits
Voices and Votes
When: August 8, 2024 - September 19, 2025
Where: The Michigan Street Baptist Church, 511 Michigan Ave., Buffalo, NY 14203
The Michigan Street African American Heritage Corridor Commission is the gateway to resident and visitor experiences about Buffalo’s rich African American history. The Commission illuminates its vibrant neighborhoods, shops, restaurants, people, and institutions, as well as its significant impact on local, national, and international history that brings attention to the resilience of Black communities across our nation. From the Buffalo Anti-Slavery Movement and the Niagara Movement to the Civil Rights Movement and the Jazz Age— leaders in the Corridor understood the importance of democracy and the need for African Americans and women to have the power to vote.
Voices and Votes is adapted from the exhibition American Democracy: A Great Leap of Faith currently on display at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History. This traveling exhibition includes many of the same dynamic features: historical and contemporary photographs; educational and archival video; engaging multimedia interactives, and historical objects like campaign souvenirs, voter memorabilia, and protest material. For more information about event visit https://nysmuseums.org/Michigan-Street-African-American-Heritage-Corridor.
Voices and Votes
When: November 28, 2025 to January 9, 2026
Where: Underground Railroad Education Center, 194 Livingston Ave., Albany, NY 12210
Inspired by the reclamation of the voices of the Underground Railroad activists written out of American history, the Underground Railroad Education Center (UREC) seeks to empower multi-age, diverse audiences through education, dialogue, and program experiences to learn about the work of historic justice activists and explore their relationship with us today. Located in the history Stephen and Harriet Myers Residence, a headquarters for Underground Railroad activity in the Caption Region in the mid-1850s, UREC places the work of the Black abolitionists in their national and international context and relates their work to today's justice efforts.
Voices and Votes is adapted from the exhibition American Democracy: A Great Leap of Faith currently on display at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History. This traveling exhibition includes many of the same dynamic features: historical and contemporary photographs; educational and archival video; engaging multimedia interactives, and historical objects like campaign souvenirs, voter memorabilia, and protest material. For more information visit: https://nysmuseums.org/Underground-Railroad-Education-Center
Past Events
Online Lecture: Opening the Way — New Research and Other Items in New York's Black Colonial History
Over the last few years there have been significant advancements in the research and sharing of information on the early years of the establishment of slavery in New York. Along with that work, there has also been a growing wave of information long held within archaeology that is now finding its way into the larger narrative, bringing the presence of African cultural traditions forward as never before. Join NYS Parks Interpreter of African American History Lavada Nahon for a highlights tour of this work as we move towards 2027 and the commemorating of both the legal end of slavery and the arrival of the first men enslaved in New Netherland/New York.
Black Military Service and Contributions throughout New York's History
The Commission hosted a free webinar on April 29, 2024 featuring Nikki Brown Associate Professor at the University of Kentucky, and author of “Private Politics and Public Voices: Black Women’s Activism from World War I to the New Deal” and Anthony F. Gero Historian, author, and co-author of six military history books and over 150 articles on military history, primarily concentrating on the NYS Militia, National Guard and African American soldiers.
Black Religion and African Spiritual Traditions Webinar
The Commission hosted a free webinar on April 5, 2024 focusing on the Contributions of Black Religion and African Spiritual Traditions throughout New York's History. The webinar featured the Rev. Malcolm Byrd, senior pastor at Mother AME Zion Church in Harlem, NY and University of Detroit Mercy Professor Katherine Merriam, who is a scholar of religious studies with a focus on contemporary Islam, race and religion and the anthropology of religion.
Upcoming Meetings
Check back later for the next scheduled meeting.
Past Meetings
Established by Governor Kathy Hochul’s Executive Order, the New York State Commission on African American History will bring New Yorkers together through events, scholarly research, and other activities to promote a greater understanding of the experiences and achievements of African Americans and people of African descent to New York State.
November 16, 2022
The inaugural meeting of the New York State Commission on African American History was held on Wednesday, November 16, 2022 at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black History located in historic Harlem, New York. A recording of the public meeting is available on YouTube.
February 9, 2023
The second meeting of the New York State Commission on African American History was held on February 9, 2023 at Philips Hall Manor in Yonkers, New York. Philips Hall Manor provides a unique window into early Colonial era life in New York. However, the building, past exhibits, and lectures did not include the story of all the individuals that lived and worked here. Under Governor Hochul’s leadership, a $20 million grant was provided to rehabilitate the site and to include new exhibits that document the story of the indigenous people and enslaved Africans, whose work and trade allowed the Philipse family to prosper during the pre-Revolutionary era. With these exhibits, a fuller picture and history is shared. In addition, on the waterfront near Philipse Hall Manor, an urban heritage garden includes six lifted bronze statues representing the six enslaved Africans living at the manor, who in 1787, were among the first to be freed in the United States — 76 years before the Emancipation Proclamation. A recording of the public meeting is available on YouTube .
March 28, 2023
The third meeting of the New York State Commission on African American History was held March 28, 2023 at University at Albany, Campus Center Ballroom in Albany. The forum highlighted "Black Women Engagement in Our Democracy and Society." A recording of the public meeting is available on YouTube.
June 12, 2023
The fourth meeting of the New York State Commission on African American History was held on June 12, 2023 at Buffalo & Erie County Library. The meeting theme was Looking Back While Moving Forward: Recognizing the long-standing presence, rich contributions, and pride of African Americans in Western New York. A recording of the public meeting is available on YouTube.
Photos
Members of the New York State Commission on African American History. From left to right: Secretary of State and Chairperson of the NYS Commission on African American History Robert J. Rodriguez; Vice Chairperson of NYS Commission on African American History Dr. Hazel Dukes; Chancellor Dr. Lester W. Young, Jr.; Dr. John R. Torrey; Ms. Joy Bivins; Dr. Malik Small; Mr. William E. Berry, Jr.; Dr. Laurie Woodard; Dr. Kishi Ducre; Dr. Henry Taylor; Ms. Jennifer Jones Austin; Dr. Anne C. Bailey; and Mr. Reginald Rene. Not pictured: Dr. Christina Greer and Mr. Owen Steed.
The New York State Commission on African American History held a public meeting on February 9, 2023 at Philipse Hall Manor in Yonkers, New York.
The New York State Commission on African American History held a public meeting on February 9, 2023 at Philipse Hall Manor in Yonkers, New York.
The New York State Commission on African American History held a public meeting on February 9, 2023 at Philipse Hall Manor in Yonkers, New York.
The New York State Commission on African American History held a public meeting on February 9, 2023 at Philipse Hall Manor in Yonkers, New York.
The New York State Commission on African American History held a public meeting on February 9, 2023 at Philipse Hall Manor in Yonkers, New York.
Cecila Tucker Myers provided a musical performance at the February 9, 2023 meeting of the New York State Commission on African American History at Philipse Hall Manor in Yonkers, New York.
President Pro Tempore and New York State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins provided remarks at the February 9, 2023 meeting of the New York State Commission on African American History at Philips Hall Manor in Yonkers, New York.
The New York State Commission on African American History held a public meeting on February 9, 2023 at Philipse Hall Manor in Yonkers, New York.
Lavada Nahon, Interpreter of African American History for the New York State Parks Bureau of Historic Sites (far right) provides a tour of Philipse Manor to Members of the NYS Commission on African American History — Dr. Hazel Dukes, Dr. Kishi Ducre, and Dr. Malik Small.
The New York State Commission on African American History held a public meeting on February 9, 2023 at Philipse Hall Manor in Yonkers, New York.
The third meeting of the New York State Commission on African American History was held March 28, 2023 at University at Albany, Campus Center Ballroom in Albany.
The third meeting of the New York State Commission on African American History was held March 28, 2023 at University at Albany, Campus Center Ballroom in Albany.
The fourth meeting of the New York State Commission on African American History was held on June 12, 2023 at Buffalo & Erie County Library.
The fourth meeting of the New York State Commission on African American History was held on June 12, 2023 at Buffalo & Erie County Library.
The fourth meeting of the New York State Commission on African American History was held on June 12, 2023 at Buffalo & Erie County Library.
The New York State Commission on African American History caucus.
The New York State Commission on African American History inaugural meeting held on Wednesday, November 16, 2022 at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black History located in Harlem, New York.
The New York State Commission on African American History holds a public meeting.
The New York State Commission on African American History holds a public meeting.
The New York State Commission on African American History held a public meeting on February 9, 2023 at Philipse Hall Manor in Yonkers, New York.
The New York State Commission on African American History held a public meeting on February 9, 2023 at Philipse Hall Manor in Yonkers, New York.
The New York State Commission on African American History held a public meeting on February 9, 2023 at Philipse Hall Manor in Yonkers, New York.
The New York State Commission on African American History held a public meeting on February 9, 2023 at Philipse Hall Manor in Yonkers, New York.
The New York State Commission on African American History held a public meeting on February 9, 2023 at Philipse Hall Manor in Yonkers, New York.
The New York State Commission on African American History held a public meeting on February 9, 2023 at Philipse Hall Manor in Yonkers, New York.
The New York State Commission on African American History held a public meeting on February 9, 2023 at Philipse Hall Manor in Yonkers, New York.