Juneteenth and America 250 Commemoration Event
https://vimeo.com/1209649339 https://vimeo.com/1209649338
Black Lives in the Hudson Valley
Tracing History, Memory and Family Reflecting on Juneteenth and America 250 Thursday, June 25, 2026 | 6:30 PMNyack Library, Community Room59 South BroadwayNyack, New York 10960 Join the African American Historical Society of Rockland County for an evening exploring Black life in the Hudson Valley through history, memory, and genealogy. Centering Black communities in Rockland […]
Newsletter – 2025 In Review
A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
On behalf of the Board of Trustees of the African American Historical Society of Rockland County, I wish you a Happy New Year and extend best wishes for a meaningful and productive 2026. As we begin the year, we do so with excitement and optimism—reflecting on the meaningful work we carried out together and the strong foundation we have built for the future.
Throughout 2025, the African American Historical Society of Rockland County strengthened partnerships, expanded our digital presence, and deepened our commitment to preserving the history of the Black experience in Rockland County.
Save the Date — 2026 Black History Month Keynote Program
AAHS is honored to welcome Dr. Jarvis R. Givens, Professor of Education and Professor of African and African American Studies at Harvard University, for our 2026 Black History Month keynote program. A leading scholar of African American educational history, Dr. Givens is the author of Fugitive Pedagogy: Carter G. Woodson and the Art of Black Teaching, a groundbreaking work that reshaped understanding of Black teaching traditions and their role in the Black freedom struggle.
Introducing The Rockland County Black Historical Communities Collaborative
The African American Historical Society of Rockland County is proud to launch the Rockland County Black Historical Communities Collaborative, a countywide initiative dedicated to uncovering, preserving, and sharing the stories of Black life across Rockland County.
Historic Hillburn Online Hub Expansion – Ongoing
Ongoing, 2025 Throughout 2025, AAHS continued expanding the Historic Hillburn Online Hub, documenting Hillburn’s layered heritage—from early community life to the landmark 1943 desegregation case. The Hub is becoming an essential resource for families, educators, descendants, and researchers. Historic Hillburn Online Hub Return to Newsletter
Annual Event: Brooklynites — A Conversation with Dr. Prithi Kanakamedala – Recap
The African American Historical Society of Rockland County hosted its Annual Event with a virtual conversation featuring Dr. Prithi Kanakamedala, author of Brooklynites: The Remarkable Story of the Free Black Communities that Shaped a Borough.
The Underestimated: Hillburn’s Brook School and the Fight Against Segregation – Recap
AAHS hosted The Underestimated: Hillburn’s Brook School and the Fight Against Segregation, an evening revisiting the 1943 desegregation fight in Hillburn—when Black families, supported by the NAACP, challenged unequal schools and helped lay groundwork for the broader civil rights movement.
Honoring the Women Who Shaped Our History: A Commitment to Preserving Local Legacies
At the African American Historical Society of Rockland County, we believe that history is most complete when it includes the voices and contributions of all who shaped it. Too often, the remarkable legacies of Black women are overlooked, forgotten, or dismissed in our retelling of history. This series seeks to change that narrative by highlighting […]
Frederick Douglass and February – A Legacy of Love and Liberation
To conclude Black History Month 2025, the African American Historical Society of Rockland County hosted a powerful and thought-provoking virtual event, Frederick Douglass and February: A Legacy of Love and Liberation. This community gathering explored Frederick Douglass’s profound relationship to the month of February, especially his decision to mark Valentine’s Day as his symbolic birthday—a gesture […]