Black Legacy

“Dispelling the myth of Northern progressivism, Katz offers a far more compelling account of the bravery and perseverance through which Black people resisted their own subjugation and, in so doing, indelibly altered New York history. Katz reminds us that New York history is Black history, and Black history is the history of New York. This is a book that should be read by all New Yorkers.” —Haley Pessin, co-editor of Voices of a People’s History of the United States in the 21st Century: Documents of Hope and Resistance

“Black people have a long and complex history in New York City and have influenced nearly every aspect of the city’s life and culture.

“This comprehensive history by the late acclaimed historian Katz, originally published in 1997, has been reissued with an introduction by journalist Herb Boyd. The volume opens with “The Africans of New Amsterdam” and closes with “The Age of Obama and Black Lives Matter,” a new chapter by Singer and Hinson. Records document the presence of Africans in what would become New York beginning in the early 1600s. Katz details the struggle to end slavery and the efforts of free Black people to build lives in the face of racism and discrimination. After the American Revolution, communities prioritized the growth of Black churches, educational institutions, and mutual aid organizations along with advocating for voting rights. Later chapters present the impact of major historical events, such as the Civil War Draft Riots and the World Wars, on the city’s Black community. Katz skillfully weaves in the rise of Harlem and its cultural influence. Readers encounter familiar figures such as Frederick Douglass, Marcus Garvey, Malcolm X, and Shirley Chisholm. This extensive study is highly readable and effectively connects many stories in ways that shed light on Black New Yorkers’ important place in the city’s history and U.S. history as a whole.

“A valuable source for readers seeking insights into key components of the nation’s past and present. (photo credits, notes, bibliography, index) (Nonfiction. 12-18).”
—Kirkus Reviews