The Neighborhood Destroyed in order to build Central Park

[VitaInDC]

I really appreciate that you've shown pieces of barely told black American history with photos that help the stories come alive. Thank you.

[celebrityrog]

Same happened in Tulsa except in that one the town was murdered and history was covered up for over 100 years.

[jordanmcgrory]

Glad you covered this element of the park's history. Sadly lots of urban channels put out long stuff gushing about how cool the park is now and don't mention one bit of the human cost.

[jodrew]

Thank you for posting this for all the world to see. My ancestors were residents of that village. They first went north to what is now central Harlem but many other's escaped to Staten Island. My ancestors eventually moved to the Hamptons because of the variety of work, which included farm share cropping, landscaping or housekeeping for the wealthy home owners and fishing.

[beastshawnee]

I had a young friend comment once that is was so nice that NewYorkers had planned ahead so well and saved the land for a beautiful park. ooooh I had to bust that child’s idealized version of reality! I said-“No-they went in and stole the housing of poor blacks, poor Irish poor immigrants -kicked them all out and paid an architect to design it. Of course that was the second time the land was stolen because the whole continent belongs to Native Americans. Not a single land treaty was done without coercion of force.” When capitalists tell you they believe in private property-tell them the local tribe wants their LAND BACK. They can leave it to the tribe rather than their spoiled brats anyway!

[MaLiArtworks]

They have been declaring Imminent Domain on our wonderful neighborhoods nationwide!

[edithstephens]

This also happened in Wall Street as well as many other places and it's not just NY history it's America's history because America has played this dirty game all over !

[mimimim]

Wow! Never knew this living in NY for so many years. This is what should be thought in the schools.

[chelsealeonardbaum]

Thank you. Learning about all of these atrocities is heartbreaking.

[juneedwards]

I TRULY love your videos it's just hard to look at them without getting so ANGRY and UPSET. Sometimes I have to stop looking at them but I always come back. THANK YOU for your work, we all need to know

[JayBirdJay]

There was a similar situation in LA with displacing Mexican homeowners to build Dodgers Stadium around 1959. The Dodgers were moving from Brooklyn, if you need a tie in to NYC

[AH--Apache_Attack_Helicopter]

Every time I see a story from this guy about NYC history, it involves death (lots of it), displacement, deceit and discrimination. 😢

[chinajo]

Thank you for showing this. I have shared this video. You are a master at cramming in a lot of information into these shorts. Excellent work!!!👍🏾

[elkee]

If you notice this is almost the same thing that happened to the Black owner town in Oklahoma. Known as "Black Wall Street. Funny how one group of people say that Black people should live away from them but, when they want what Black people have worked HARD to develop and live in the own community, those same people will destroy them and take their land. This never ends for Black People in this country. Thanks for the information Urbanist. I will remain curious.

[latwo]

it’s things like this in history that prevented the black man from getting a proper foot on the floor to build something for his future family to pass down and have generational wealth

[patcomerford]

A penthouse overlooking Central Park has now a different view.
Great upload.

[guillermomarrufo]

So sad. I'm glad you are showing us the true New York. Love all your videos.

[BiLdoEMcLown]

The more American history I learn, the less proud I am to be an American. There really isn't an inch of this country that's not completely soaked in the blood of innocent minorities. It's a wonder anything grows here at all.

[Revealthereal_]

It’s not just New York, it’s ALL cities in America. When they needed a highway they cut through Black homes!

[shelbylue]

😢 furious. grateful to creators sharing these stories. 💔