Black History Month exhibit on display at State Capitol
ALBANY, N.Y. >> Gov. Kathy Hochul has announced the 2024 Black History Month exhibit is open in the New York State Capitol.
According to a news release from the Governor’s office, the free exhibit is titled “1964: New Yorkers Who Shaped History.” It celebrates the 60th anniversary of the passage of The Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the New Yorkers who helped pave the way for its passage and continued to fight for justice throughout the state. It is located in the Governor’s Reception Room on the second floor of the Capitol.
“New York State has played a pivotal role in the Civil Rights Movement and this exhibit will showcase the influential men and women who advocated for justice leading up to the passage of the Civil Rights Act,” Hochul said in the release. “We must continue to honor and pay tribute the New Yorkers who fought and marched for Black rights during this time.”
“New York is proud to have paved the way in the fight for racial justice and civil rights,” Lieutenant Governor Delgado said in the release. “We know the importance of honoring our history and allowing our past to illuminate our future. May we never forget the sacrifices of the civil rights leaders who came before us and may we continue their fight until true liberty and justice for all is finally realized.”
New Yorkers featured in the exhibit include:
• Dorothy Height, one of the most influential women in the modern Civil Rights Movement. She is credited with founding the YWCA’s Center for Racial Justice in New York City. Dorothy was also among the first to merge Black and women’s rights. United States leaders, including President Johnson, came to Dorothy for counsel and advice on political matters because of her organizing and civil rights knowledge.
• Bayard Rustin, one of the most prolific advocates during the Civil Rights Movement. He was one of Dr. King’s closest advisors and a key organizer of the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. He was also responsible for one of New York City’s largest demonstrations for civil rights in 1964: The New York City School Boycott.
• Philip Randolph, a labor leader and political strategist who founded the nation’s first Black labor union in 1925, the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters. He was also key in organizing the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.
• Ella Baker, an African American civil rights activist and community organizer who co-founded the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC).
The free exhibit, which runs through the end of February, is open Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. For more information, please visit the exhibit’s website at https://empirestateplaza. ny.gov/1964-new-yorkerswho-shaped-history.