Radical Black Women in Harlem: A Walking Tour

Want to learn about some radical Black women who contributed to making Harlem a center of cultural innovation, radical politics and sustained activism throughout the twentieth century?

Join us on June 1, 2024 at 10:45 am in front of the Schomburg Center for Research on Black Culture at 515 Malcolm X Boulevard for a Women's History Month walking tour developed by Asha Futterman and Mariame Kaba.

The tour will be led by Mariame who will share stories of inspiring Black women like Madame C.J. Walker, Regina Andrews, Ella Baker, Ida B Wells, Williana Burroughs, Marvel Cooke, Amy Ashwood Garvey, Louise Thompson Patterson, Zora Neale Hurston, Claudia Jones, Lorraine Hansberry, Pauli Murray, Audre Lorde and more.

We'll visit the street corners, buildings, public places and neighborhood spots where Black women made history - with impacts that extended far beyond Harlem's streets to the world.

The tour will take place rain or shine.

About the Guide:

Mariame Kaba is an organizer, educator and archivist who is active in movements for racial, gender, and transformative justice. She is the co-author of Lifting As They Climbed: Mapping a History of Trailblazing Black Women in Chicago (https://www.haymarketbooks.org/books/2003-lifting-as-they-climbed). The guidebook features a number of Black women who contributed to the development of Chicago from the mid-19th century to today. It tells a story of Black women activists, educators and artists who lived and worked on Chicago’s South & West Sides by taking readers on a tour of relevant landmarks and locations.

Timeline: 11:00 am – We will start at 11 am SHARP and end at around 2:00 pm.

THIS IS A FUNDRAISER. Suggested Donation is AT LEAST $25. Tours like these usually cost between $25-$50. This is a fundraiser and all donations will go to Survived and Punished NY.

NOTE ON PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

This is an active tour. Participants should be reasonably fit and feel comfortable walking for a few miles (up to 3.5 miles). Be prepared to remain outside and on your feet for a significant period of time. If you bring young children, you should make sure you have a stroller in which they can ride.

ARRIVAL & DEPARTURE

Take the #2 or #3 subway, get off at the 135th street station. We will meet in front of the Schomburg Center for Research on Black Culture.

You should plan to arrive by 10:45 am on June 1. We will begin promptly at 11 am.

You can leave the tour at any time if you feel tired and simply don't want to continue to the next location. The tour is 2.5 hours and sometimes extends a bit longer depending on where participants want to end.

COVID SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

We are still in the midst of a global pandemic even as NYC drops all COVID safety measures.

* The walking tour will be capped at 20 people.

* Stay home if you are feeling sick or symptomatic. If you have been in contact with someone with related symptoms or who has tested positive within the last 10 days also stay home, we can refund you for your donation.

* Masks are encouraged.

* An inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 exists in any public space where people are present. Those joining the walking tour do so at their own risk to such exposure.

OTHER THINGS

• Remember to dress for the day’s weather and wear comfortable walking shoes, as we will be on our feet for most of the tour.
• Feel free to bring a bottle of water and light snacks along if you’d like.
• Use the restroom ahead of time.
• The tours will run rain or shine. However, we reserve the right to cancel the tour under severe weather conditions such as heavy rain or thunder for example.
• In case of questions regarding tour cancellations or in the event there is an emergency, please email jjinjustice1@gmail.com or call [do not text] (773) 392-5165.