Last fall, Syracuse University’s South Side Initiative and the local Black History Preservation team sponsored a bus tour of old Syracuse: the 15th Ward and other historical sites.
Some 30 senior members of the community, who have lived in Syracuse for at least 40 years, participated. The tour and the participants’ stories and recollections of Syracuse’s past were filmed for a documentary, “Syracuse’s 15th Ward and Beyond.” The documentary was created by local filmmaker and SU alumna Courtney Rile.
The documentary will be debuted in a red carpet premiere on Saturday, May 22, in Syracuse Stage’s Storch Theatre. Reservations are no longer being accepted for this event. A second showing will be held Thursday, May 27, at 7 p.m. at ArtRage Gallery, 505 Hawley Ave. in Syracuse. This showing is free and open to the public, but seating is limited. Call 218-5711 for more information.
Among the former sites the tour participants visited were the Ebony Market, Croton Elementary, Old Dunbar, The Glass Bottom and Open Door lounges, Ben’s Kitchen, the Father Brady Center for Black Catholics and Washington Irving Elementary School.
“The Black History Preservation Project is a direct response to the South Side community’s interest in more fully representing Syracuse’s rich history,” says Linda Littlejohn, associate vice president for SU’s South Side Initiative. “We are privileged to develop a virtual community museum that celebrates the history and heritage of black people in the Syracuse region with community residents, the City of Syracuse’s Office of Multicultural Affairs, the Onondaga County Public Library, the University’s Black Syracuse project, SU’S E.S. Bird Library and the Onondaga Historical Association. We also acknowledge the Dunbar Association for the use of their space.
“In keeping with our motto, ‘Your story is our history,’ we look forward to providing additional opportunities for people to share their stories with the Black History Preservation Project,” Littlejohn says.
The spirit of the Orange will unite with the precision of the United States Army’s oldest active-duty band, the West Point Band, for several events this weekend at the University, including a public concert with the University’s Wind Ensemble in…
“It’s never too early to begin taking action to achieve your unique professional goals,” is advice frequently shared by school, college and unit career teams in partnership with Syracuse University Career Services. Supporting students within their unique trajectory to career…
As the University’s vice president for diversity and inclusion, Mary Grace Almandrez was paying close attention to the Supreme Court rulings that were issued towards the end of the court’s term in June. In particular, Almandrez and her Office of…
A welcoming community where students of varying backgrounds thrive. An infrastructure that nurtures top-tier research and academics. These are two cornerstones of the College of Arts and Sciences (A&S) experience. Over the past six years, A&S has shown important strides…
Sophie Creager-Roberts ’24 is a senior double major in environment, sustainability and policy and history in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs with a minor in atrocity studies and the practices of social justice in the School of…
If you need help with your subscription, contact sunews@syr.edu.
