Brooklynites: The Remarkable Story of the Free Black Communities That Shaped a Borough
About the Program
Join the African American Historical Society of Rockland County for an evening with Dr. Prithi Kanakamedala, historian, author, and public scholar, as she discusses her acclaimed book Brooklynites: The Remarkable Story of the Free Black Communities that Shaped a Borough (NYU Press).
Dr. Kanakamedala will explore the history of New York’s 19th-century free Black communities and their lasting legacy of activism, self-determination, and community building. Through stories of resilience and leadership, she uncovers Brooklyn’s forgotten Black activism—a history that continues to inspire today’s movements for justice and preservation.
The conversation will also explore community archiving and memory projects, offering ideas for how Rockland County history keepers can preserve and share stories of Black life across generations.
📖 Hear about the work AAHS has accomplished in 2025 and the exciting projects we will launch in the coming year.
✨ Attend for a chance to receive a complimentary copy of the book!
💻 Virtual Event via Zoom
🔗 Register to receive the Zoom link
About the Speaker
Prithi Kanakamedala is Professor of History at Bronx Community College and The Graduate Center, CUNY. She is the author of Brooklynites: The Remarkable Story of the Free Black Communities that Shaped a Borough, a 2025 Gotham Book Prize finalist, longlisted for the 2025 Brooklyn Book Prize (Nonfiction), and winner of the 2024 Victorian Society of New York Book Award.
An active public historian, Dr. Kanakamedala serves on the boards of the Weeksville Heritage Center and the Center for Brooklyn History. Her work bridges scholarship and community engagement, illuminating how Black New Yorkers built institutions that shaped both Brooklyn and the nation.
