“Brooklynites: The Remarkable Story of the Free Black Communities that Shaped a Borough” by Prithi Kanakamedala delves into the history of Brooklyn as America’s third largest city, independent from Manhattan and New York City, but also a place where one in three black inhabitants were enslaved after the American Revolution. The book highlights how a free Black community at Brooklyn’s northwestern tip shaped the landscape and imbued the land with radical possibilities of freedom in the face of systemic racism.
Through the stories of four ordinary families from Brooklyn’s nineteenth-century Black community – the Crogers, the Hodges, the Wilsons, and the Gloucesters – Kanakamedala reveals how neighborhoods like Fort Greene, Williamsburg, and DUMBO became hotbeds for social justice movements focused on a new emancipated future. These families fought for freedom in the face of daunting odds, showing the struggles they faced post-Revolution and the gradual emancipation of slavery in New York.
These families encountered systemic and structural racism as they fought for freedom, even after formal slavery ended, with the Black community still limited to manual labor. Kanakamedala discusses how their lives offer valuable lessons on freedom, democracy, and family – both biological and chosen. Their powerful stories continue to resonate today and have had a lasting impact on Brooklyn, leaving a legacy of land, home, labor, and New Yorkers past.
Kanakamedala highlights how these families were pivotal in the fight for emancipation, being part of a sophisticated Northern anti-slavery movement rooted in Brooklyn’s growth. The book considers the long-lasting impact of families like the Crogers, Hodges, Wilsons, and Gloucesters on Brooklyn, showcasing a story of land, home, labor, and the legacy they left for future generations. It also delves into the broader social justice movements that emerged in neighborhoods like Fort Greene, Williamsburg, and DUMBO.
Overall, “Brooklynites” sheds light on the remarkable story of free Black communities in Brooklyn that shaped the borough into what it is today. Kanakamedala’s research into the lives of these families provides insights into the struggles they faced, the activism they pursued, and the lasting impact they had on the fabric of Brooklyn. Their stories serve as a reminder of the ongoing fight for freedom and equality and the importance of acknowledging and learning from the past to create a better future.
