Senate Resolution No. 1433

BY: Senator PARKER

HONORING the life and legacy of Arturo Alfonso
Schomburg and recognizing his many contributions to
the State of New York

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and
honor individuals whose intellectual leadership, scholarship, and
unwavering commitment to truth have profoundly enriched the cultural,
historical, and civic life of the State of New York; and

WHEREAS, Arturo Alfonso Schomburg (January 24, 1874 - June 19, 1938)
was a distinguished historian, writer, curator, and activist whose
life's work transformed the understanding and preservation of the global
contributions of people of African descent; and

WHEREAS, Born in Santurce, Puerto Rico, to Mary Joseph, a freeborn
Black midwife from St. Croix, and Carlos Federico Schomburg, the son of
a German immigrant, Arturo Schomburg was raised within a rich
Afro-Caribbean tradition that shaped his lifelong commitment to history,
justice, and cultural affirmation; and

WHEREAS, After relocating to New York City in 1891, at the age of
17, Arturo Schomburg devoted his life to disproving the false and
damaging claim that Black people possessed no history or significant
achievements, instead dedicating himself to uncovering, documenting, and
celebrating the richness of Black life throughout the African diaspora;
and

WHEREAS, A vital intellectual figure of the Harlem Renaissance,
Arturo Schomburg co-founded the Negro Society for Historical Research,
brought together African, Caribbean, and African-American scholars, and
authored influential essays and bibliographies that challenged racist
scholarship and expanded academic and public understanding of Black
achievement; and

WHEREAS, Arturo Schomburg's extraordinary personal collection of
books, manuscripts, art, and historical materials was acquired by the
New York Public Library and became the foundation of the institution now
known as the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in Harlem,
one of the world's leading repositories dedicated to the study of Black
history and culture; and

WHEREAS, Identifying proudly as an Afro-Puerto Rican, Arturo
Schomburg exemplified the interconnectedness of African, Caribbean, and
Latin-American histories, and his work forged enduring bridges among
cultures while advancing a more inclusive and truthful narrative of the
American experience; and

WHEREAS, Arturo Alfonso Schomburg's legacy endures through the
generations of scholars, students, artists, and community members
inspired by his belief that history is a vital instrument of dignity,
liberation, and collective memory; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor the life and legacy of Arturo Alfonso Schomburg, in acknowledgment
of his enduring contributions to historical scholarship, cultural
preservation, and the advancement of knowledge and justice for all; and
be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture as a
testament to the lasting impact of Arturo Alfonso Schomburg upon the
State of New York and beyond.