NEW YORK, CMC – Caribbean-American New York City Council Member Crystal Hudson has honored Black History, saying that Black History is “American History, Women’s History, Queer History.”
“And Black History isn’t going anywhere, no matter how hard some may try to erase it,” said Hudson, whose grandmother hailed from Jamaica, in a message to constituents on Wednesday honoring Black History.
“Here in Brooklyn, Black history is rooted in real places and real people,” added the representative for the 35th Council District in Brooklyn, noting that “Weeksville was one of the largest free Black communities in the country, built by Black New Yorkers who acquired land, educated their children, created institutions, and defined freedom for themselves long before this nation was willing to recognize it.”
Hudson said that same spirit lives on in leaders like the late Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm, the daughter of Barbadian and Guyanese immigrants.
Chisholm was born on November 30, 1924, in Brooklyn and died on January 1, 2005, in Ormond Beach, Florida.
She made history as the first African American woman to be elected to the US Congress, serving in the House of Representatives from 1969 to 1983.
In 1972, Chisholm also became the first woman to run for the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination.
Hudson said Chisholm “did not wait for permission to lead; she spoke plainly, governed boldly, and made room for people who had long been shut out of power.
“Her legacy is a reminder that representation matters, and that change comes from people who are deeply accountable to their communities,” she said.
Across historically Black Brooklyn, neighborhoods, movements, and culture “thrive that continue to shape New York City and the country,” Hudson said.
“This history is living,” she said. “It shows up in our organizing, our art, our institutions, and our everyday acts of care for one another.” Hudson said this Black History Month comes at a time “when that history is being challenged and distorted.
“We are seeing attacks on diversity, equity, and inclusion; efforts to censor classrooms; and attempts to deny the realities of racism in this country,” she said. “That makes this moment about more than celebration; it is about telling the truth, protecting our history, and making sure the next generation knows where we come from and what is possible.”
The Council Member noted that one thing she always says is “when Black people thrive, everyone thrives.”
She said that’s why she published A Black Agenda for NYC and built on its recommendations by passing a Truth, Healing, and Reconciliation bill in 2024, which established the Commission on Racial Equity to confront the historic and ongoing mistreatment of Black New Yorkers.
Hudson said she knew how critical it was for the government to take real action against systemic racist and anti-Black policies, practices, and laws.
“This month, and every month, we remain committed to honoring Black history not just with words, but with action,” she said.
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