Ariane Hurwitz
In the Caesar Rebellion, Irish and English immigrants plotted alongside Blacks to overthrow the New York government. It was not just race, but a desire to change the power structure and strive for economic equality that led these different minorities to work together. The elites were exploiting Blacks with forced labor; the Irish and English immigrants felt oppressed within the current system.
Another issue Kamau Ware addressed was the denial of Black history. New York has no memorials about Caesar’s Rebellion because it does not align with the narrative it wants to present. Black history is not represented enough simply because history, more often than not, is the story of the victors. Teaching and educating an audience about this rebellion, along with other Black victories, reveals forgotten history and hope for a future where this event will be taught as a part of the narrative that leads us to the present.
Crys Pereira
Kamau Ware’s lecture was extremely informative and insightful. He discussed why Black history in New York City has been neglected for so long and the importance of educating ourselves on all aspects of the history of our city. He also provided a complete timeline of history from the arrival of Black people in Manhattan to modern day social justice issues for Black Americans. Kamau’s lecture focused on the relationship that the poor immigrants and Blacks had with New York City over several centuries, starting with the New Netherland settlers in the early 17th century.
These are images used by Kamau to accompany his work on Black experiences in New York from the time of Dutch settlement. He uses an image of a map of lower Manhattan at the time when its population was largely concentrated at the tip of the island (circa mid 1700s) as a background.