Panel Discussion on the Harlem African Burial Ground

The Place, Memory & Culture Incubator at Spitzer is pleased to invite all students, faculty, staff, and guests to a special in-person Panel Discussion on the Harlem African Burial Ground at Spitzer School of Architecture, Sciame Auditorium (Room 107), First Floor.

This critical conversation is hosted in collaboration with the Harlem African Burial Ground Initiative, NYC Economic Development Corporation, Save Harlem Now!, and Bridge Philanthropic Consulting.

We will reflect on the profound history and cultural legacy of the Harlem African Burial Ground and the current efforts to honor the lives of those interred there.

Founded in 1660, the village of Nieuw Haarlem established segregated cemeteries: one for Europeans, the other for people of African descent. The latter—the Harlem African Burial Ground—served the community for over two centuries. While European remains were relocated in the mid-1800s, those buried in the African cemetery were left behind. The site, now beneath a 1947-built bus depot, experienced decades of desecration and erasure.

In 2015, archaeologists confirmed human remains at the site, substantiating its historical significance. Ongoing work aims to map the full extent of the burial ground. Meanwhile, efforts led by the Harlem African Burial Ground Initiative (HABGI) and NYCEDC continue to envision a future for the site that includes a public memorial, a cultural education center, affordable housing, and community job opportunities.

Please join us as we uplift this vital history and community vision!