Who Owns the Past?

Slavery, Memory, and the Making of New York

A Community Conversation with Humanities New York and Pace University

Thursday, November 5, 2026 | 7:00–8:15 p.m.
Doors open at 6:30 p.m.
Zannino Conference Room, 1st floor
Pace University, One Pace Plaza, New York, NY

In 1991, construction in Lower Manhattan uncovered a burial ground containing the remains of hundreds of Africans who had lived and labored in colonial New York. The discovery sparked a struggle over how the city should confront its history of slavery and who should have a say in what happened to the site.

In the second of two Community Conversations presented by Pace University and Humanities New York, we'll explore these questions through the words of anthropologist Michael Blakey, who led the research into the African Burial Ground. Together, we'll consider how the legacies of slavery continue to shape the city's institutions, public spaces, and understanding of itself.

A Community Conversation invites participants to explore a shared text and listen to one another's perspectives. No historical expertise or advance preparation is needed. We'll read a short selection together, and Joe Murphy, Humanities New York's Director of Strategic Partnerships, will guide the discussion. Questions are welcome. Bring your curiosity and willingness to listen.

Admission is free. Please register in advance so Pace University can include your name on its building guest list. At One Pace Plaza, check in at the security desk, say you're attending the Humanities New York Community Conversation, and present a photo ID.

Presented as part of Pace University’s project, “Sold in the Free City of New York”: The Business of Slavery and its Legacy in Lower Manhattan, with funding support from the Council of Independent Colleges History and Legacies of American Slavery Grant Program.