Saturday, October 25 at 2 pm
New Bethel A.M.E. Church, 3015 W. School House Lane [Google Map]
Everyone welcome. Free. No registration needed.
Preserving Black History in Philadelphia
Presented in cooperation with New Bethel A.M.E. Church.
Black History in the Philadelphia Landscape was published by Temple University Press in 2024. It is based on Amy's teaching at Masterman. In 2005, the School District of Philadelphia mandated a year-long course in African American history as a requirement for high school graduation. She stepped up to teach the course at Masterman and chose to emphasize local Black history.
The book includes information on well-known Black residents of Philadelphia – Richard Allen, Octavius Catto, Julian Abele, Marian Anderson, Sadie Alexander, Paul Robeson, Rev. Leon Sullivan, Cecil B. Moore; but also on lesser-known people – Dinah, who saved Stenton, and Charles Blockson, who began collecting Black history material as a nine-year-old.
It also includes maps of Center City & South Philadelphia, West Philadelphia, North Philadelphia with locations of the sites, murals, historical markers, street names, and statues that help to preserve Black history in Philadelphia. Amy will talk about the need to preserve all of this long-ignored history in the current political climate.
Cohen spoke about the book at the Falls Library in February for a joint meeting of the East Falls Historical Society and the Friends of the Falls Library, but she has so much material (and slides) that each of her presentations is different.
She is the Director of Education for History Making Productions, which has made documentaries about Philadelphia history.
The book will be for sale; copies are $15; cash, checks, credit cards, and Venmo will be accepted.
Accessible. Enter from the parking lot behind the church or park on School House Lane.