2011-J629
LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commemorating Harlem's Historic African Burial
Ground in Recognition of Black History Month, February of 2011
WHEREAS, All our greatest accomplishments rest on achievements our
ancestors made before us and we can only evolve, grow and prosper by
remembering our history; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to celebrate,
preserve and promote special places and worthy endeavors which teach
young and old, about all the varied peoples whose labors and talents
have enriched, enlightened and ennobled New York City and State and our
great nation, the United States of America; and
WHEREAS, With February being Black History Month, it is a time to
reflect on the struggles and victories of African-Americans throughout
our country's history and to recognize their numerous valuable contrib-
utions to society; and
WHEREAS Last year, downtown, in February, with pomp and fanfare a new
visitor's center opened near the 'Negro's Cemetery' rediscovered in
1991, that was active during the 17th and 18th centuries as the final
resting place of tens of thousands of African slaves whose unpaid labor
helped make New York the nation's great commercial capital; and
WHEREAS, Uptown, largely unknown, yet another 'Negro's Cemetery'
existed in East Harlem below what is now the MTA's 126th Street Bus
Depot, this colonial-era burial ground for African slaves and free
blacks occupies a quarter acre lot on the original Dutch Reformed Church
grounds, on First Avenue between 126th and 127th Streets and was in
operation until as late as 1845; and
WHEREAS, In New York State, slavery, gradually abolished in 1827,
persisted until 1830, and laws enacted prior to that date, though
encouraging the conversion of Negros, and Indians to the Christian faith
strictly stipulated, "that the baptism of any slave should not be deemed
a manumission of such slave" and even in death, blacks were denied human
dignity conferred by ceremony, with a law passed in 1722 inspired by
fear of conspiracies, decreeing that "all negro and Indian slaves dying
within the City should be buried by daylight... that not more than 12
slaves should attend any funeral under penalty of a public whipping...
that no pall, gloves, or favors of any sort were to be worn, and any
slave who was found to have held a pall or worn gloves or favors was to
be whipped. The non Christian character of the blacks prevented burial
in consecrated ground"; and
WHEREAS, Ironically, General George Washington's slaves, his valet
William Lee and cook Mrs. Thompson stayed with him during his weeks
stationed in Harlem conducting America's Revolutionary War of Independ-
ence against the British; and
WHEREAS, Even late into the 19th century, once Harlem's Dutch Reformed
Church sold its historic burial ground for commercial development, the
remains of whites were disinterred and reburied with a solemn church
service at Woodlawn Cemetery, while those of blacks were left in place
and desecrated; and
WHEREAS, The contributions, striving for freedom and suffering of
Native and African-Americans has been imperative, but trivialized,
extraordinary and exemplary, but ignored; and
WHEREAS, It is a seminal occurrence in our history encapsulated in
this sacred place; and
WHEREAS, Harlem's oldest congregation, the Elmendorf Reformed Church
made up of descendants of enslaved people, under the heroic leadership
of The Reverend Dr. Patricia A. Singletary, valiantly led the fight to
gain Harlem's African Burial Ground's preservation, recognition and
fitting commemoration; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
recognize the proud history of Harlem's historic African Burial Ground;
and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to The Reverend Patricia Singletary, Pastor, Elmendorf Reformed
Church.