Greenburgh Insider: African American stories during Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr birthday weekend- Greenburgh experiences.

 

Some fascinating stories of Greenburgh residents --highlighting their experiences, struggles.

Last year the town initiated an interested initiative that we want to promote every year on Dr. Martin Luther King. Jr birthday. Residents of Greenburgh tell their stories and highlight the struggles and challenges of the African American Community.  It's important to never forget.   This is part of the Greenburgh living history initiatives. Other living history stories include 150 interviews with veterans of World War II and the Korean conflict and interviews with those who experienced the tragedies of 9-11.

 

THE AFRICAN DIASPORA EXPERIENCE: Living Narratives of Greenburgh Residents.

 

Last year we launched a new town initiative – archiving African American Stories – that we’d love to keep growing. Have a story to tell about your family history in Greenburgh and beyond?    Share experiences you had growing up here or elsewhere  and tell us how you and your family overcame the struggles.

Please email pfeiner@greenburghny.com, including a photo or more if you have any. We will reach out to record an interview.

LINKS TO THE AFRICAN DIASPORA EXPERIENCES CAN BE FOUND BY CLICKING BELOW.

 

Please visit our website where we’ve compiled the stories so far: https://sites.google.com/view/greenburgharchives, which include:

 

·         Councilman Ken Jones writes about his aunt, Anna Bernard, a Parkway Gardens resident who was the first African American to be admitted to the NY Bar.

 

·         A fascinating report by Bishop Preston, noting "the marks of slavery still burn bright." Bishop Dr. Wilbert G. Preston is the Pastor of Christ Temple and chairs the Greenburgh Housing Authority. 

 

·         Eugene Rutherford, is a lifelong resident of Greenburgh, Storyteller and retired Teacher/Educator.

 

·         Tina Harper of the TDYCC interviews Greenburgh resident Charlotte Phoenix, PhD, about her incredible grandfather's life journey from Mississippi to Michigan. 

 

·         Civil Rights Stories: Elaine Finsilver recounts how she was so active on the local front for the fight for justice in the 1960s she missed MLK Jr's famous speech; the text of Bill Greenwalt's sermon from 2020 on the 1963 March on Washington; and Mike Sigal on his participation in the Civil Rights Movement.

 

·         Ron Cook, first African American to integrate Ardsley schools in 1965, as interviewed on Paul Feiner's WVOX radio show in 2018. 

 

·         Tina Harper of the TDYCC interviews Greenburgh resident Diana Bason about growing up in White Plains and Greenburgh.

 

 

PAUL FEINER
Greenburgh Town Supervisor