An African American defies discrimination, refusing to leave his seat on a train. He is forced out, and later sues the railway. Amazingly, this occurred in 1841…114 years before Rosa Parks would not be moved. The courageous man was David Ruggles, a major figure in the American antislavery movement and the nation’s first black journalist […]
Tag Archives | history
Philip A. Payton: the Father of Harlem
Harlem’s been called “the Black Capital of America,” a haven for Blacks from around the nation (and the world). It has been the nexus of African American culture, and home to the largest black population outside Africa. All resulted from the ambitions of one man – Philip A. Payton, Jr. Harlem was founded in the […]
Diego Rivera in NYC
Diego Rivera, one of the 20th Century’s most famous artists, was locked in one of NYC’s most infamous culture clashes. Celebrated Mexican artist Diego Rivera came to NYC in 1931 to create murals for the new Museum of Modern Art. The works were showcased in the museum’s second solo exhibition (Matisse being the first), which […]
Dickens Does NYC
It’s your last chance to catch the Morgan Library & Museum’s exhibit, “Charles Dickens at 200,” celebrating the bicentennial of the great writer’s birth. The Morgan’s collection of Dickens manuscripts and letters is the largest in the U.S. (second largest in the world), and this exhibit features manuscripts (including originals of A Christmas Carol and […]
Best Things to do in NYC: Visit Grand Central Terminal
New York’s Grand Central Terminal isn’t just a train depot—it’s the symbol of a bygone era and one of the most popular attractions in the world. But just because you’ve seen this iconic place in pictures and movies, don’t think that you know everything about it. The titanic train station is sitting on a treasure trove […]
Martin Luther King Jr. in NYC
“This is not your city of residence, Dr. King, but it is your city nevertheless…We claim you, henceforth, as an honorary New Yorker.” With these words, Mayor Robert F. Wagner presented Martin Luther King Jr. with the Medallion of Honor of the City of New York in 1964. New York City played a significant role […]
New Year’s Eve – Times Square
Every year on December 31, people from around the globe gather in the Crossroads of the World to join a massive party: New Year’s Eve in Times Square. As many as a million people crowd into the square, joined by over a billion world-wide watching the live telecast. Musical performances, pyrotechnics, colorful confetti, and, of […]