Mama Joy's Abolitionist Walking Tour

Overview

1800s activists in Brooklyn created a new Black freedom movement. Come unerase countless Black liberation locations in Downtown Brooklyn.

New York City tried to confiscate the home of Mama Joy at 227 Duffield. She fought back- and WON. In the process, she created a movement to respect the Black history of Downtown Brooklyn. Come hear stories of countless heroes and sheroes, and see how their stories have been erased from our streets.

This is more than just a walk recovering a century+ of Black Civil Rights history. It's also a personal story of Mama Joy as told by her daughter, Shawné Lee, and co-curated by Public Historian Raul Rothblatt.

Last tour of 2025!

Please visit Friends of Abolitionist Place to learn more.

Here is our YouTube playlist with 58 videos.

1800s activists in Brooklyn created a new Black freedom movement. Come unerase countless Black liberation locations in Downtown Brooklyn.

New York City tried to confiscate the home of Mama Joy at 227 Duffield. She fought back- and WON. In the process, she created a movement to respect the Black history of Downtown Brooklyn. Come hear stories of countless heroes and sheroes, and see how their stories have been erased from our streets.

This is more than just a walk recovering a century+ of Black Civil Rights history. It's also a personal story of Mama Joy as told by her daughter, Shawné Lee, and co-curated by Public Historian Raul Rothblatt.

Last tour of 2025!

Please visit Friends of Abolitionist Place to learn more.

Here is our YouTube playlist with 58 videos.