This day in history-January 20th: Weeksville, Brooklyn, an African-American community is founded

Photo: Weeksvillle Heritage Center/Facebook James Weeks found himself a free Black man when slavery ended in New York State in 1838. He purchased land from another free Black man named, Henry C. Thompson. This sale established the beginnings of a thriving self-sufficient African-American enclave in Brooklyn called Weeksville. The African-American…

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This day in history: Jean Toomer is born

Jean Toomer, writer and philosopher was born today, December 26, 1894. Toomer, like his parents, could easily pass for white with his heritage comprising of several European and African bloodlines.  However, understanding the importance of the plight of blacks and the need to express black life in writing so others…

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