Image Source: NYC Racial Justice
June 26, 2024 Story by: Editor
New York Governor Kathy Hochul has unveiled the final report from the state Commission on African American History, which advocates for strategic investments in education, community, and economic development to address historical disparities faced by Black residents. According to the governor’s office, this announcement was made on Wednesday alongside a commitment of $16 million to support the implementation of these recommendations.
The report is the culmination of a two-year study initiated by an executive order Hochul signed in March 2022. “While Juneteenth is a joyous occasion, it’s also a reminder of how we must reckon with all parts of our shared history as New Yorkers,” Hochul stated. “Thanks to the great work of this Commission, we are making progress to right the wrongs of the past as we celebrate and preserve the history of our state’s Black community for generations to come.”
The allocated $16 million aims to facilitate the commission’s recommendations in time for the 400th anniversary in 2026 of the arrival of 11 captured Africans brought to New Amsterdam, marking a significant historical moment in New York state.
Additionally, a separate panel, established by legislation last year, will examine the state’s history of slavery and devise ways to address its enduring impacts on the descendants of enslaved New Yorkers. Source: Spectrum News 1
