Searching for Social Justice

Brooklyn’s free Black community attracted people who sought to grow their city in a radical anti-slavery vision. They did so even as their own freedom was threatened by systemic and structural racism, risking their safety for the sake of their city. Priti Kanakamedala, Professor at Bronx Community Collège and CUNY Graduate Center, will discuss her book, Brooklynites: the Remarkable Story of the Free Black communities that Shaped a Borough, which recounts the lives of these remarkable citizens and considers their lasting impact on New York City.