"We prepare students to engage in the world that is and to help bring about a world that ought to be."
Facing History
Seventh graders recently participated in a powerful joint History/goLead field trip with Black Gotham Experience. This immersive journey allowed students to explore the layered history of New Netherland, British New York, and the early years of New York City. They delved into the lives and contributions of Black residents in lower Manhattan, learning about their significant role in shaping the city and their courageous efforts to claim freedom.
Through the Black Gotham Experience, middle schoolers revisited these often-overlooked histories, engaging in a collective reimagining of the past to expand public awareness. The tour provided a thoughtful examination of the profound impact of the African Diaspora on New York's development, highlighting real individuals whose stories have frequently been erased or suppressed. This deep engagement with character-driven narratives fostered meaningful connections, leaving a lasting impression on students.
The tour featured the second of five core stories: Sarah’s Fire. Beginning in 1664 in the “Land of the Blacks,” on the second day of British New York, the story unfolds in a community of both free and enslaved Black individuals on the southern tip of Manhattan. It illuminates the complexities of urban slavery in a port city intertwined with the sugar trade of the West Indies. At the heart of this narrative is Sarah, an enslaved woman who played a central role in the first Black rebellion on Manhattan Island, which took place on April 6, 1712.
During the walk, students reflected on the history behind Van Cortlandt Street in Lower Manhattan—named after a family who held others in bondage.
This exploration prompted deeper questions: How should New York City confront the erasure of these histories from public memory? What or whom are the streets in our neighborhoods named after? Are there untold stories behind our local landmarks, and why are they significant?
This exploration prompted deeper questions: How should New York City confront the erasure of these histories from public memory? What or whom are the streets in our neighborhoods named after? Are there untold stories behind our local landmarks, and why are they significant?
Through this experience, students gained a richer understanding of the untold stories that have shaped New York’s history and the importance of preserving these narratives for future generations while taking inspiration from the model of activism shown by these early residents of our city.
Friends Seminary actively promotes diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racism in all its programs and operations, including admissions, financial aid, hiring, and all facets of the educational experience. To form a community which strives to reflect the world’s diversity, we do not discriminate on the basis of race or color, religion, nationality, ethnicity, economic background, physical ability, sex, gender identity or expression, or sexual orientation. Friends Seminary is an equal opportunity employer.
Friends Seminary — the oldest continuously operated, coeducational school in NYC — serves college-bound day students in Kindergarten-Grade 12.
