Mark Morris Dance Center, Brooklyn; (c) Soul Of America
Brooklyn & Queens Cultural Sites
Brooklyn, NY
40 Acres & A Mule Filmworks
DESCRIPTION: Spike Lee founded 40 Acres & A Mule based in his childhood neighborhood, the Fort Greene section of Brooklyn, after gaining box office success and critical acclaim from producing, writing, acting, and directing his first feature film She’s Gotta Have It, but including Malcolm X and BlacKKKlansman. His company gave a whole generation of young people access to the film industry that they did not have before and either launched or accelerated the careers of numerous young actors and production staff including Laurence Fishburne, Denzel Washington, Danny Aiello, Mekhi Phifer, John Turturro and Wesley Snipes. Spike Lee expanded the organization mission to seminars where special guests came to speak about the film industry, including Martin Scorsese, John Singleton, Robert De Niro, and the Hughes Brothers. The most endearing aspects of 40 Acres & A Mule are its community engagement activities and his documentaries such as, Four Little Girls, When the Levees Broke and If God is Willing and Da Creek Don’t Rise.
DAYS & HOURS: by appt
ADDRESS: 75 South ElliottPlace MAP
PHONE: 718-221-2911
RAPID TRANSIT: 2, 3, 4, 5 lines
WEBSITE: http://www.40acres.com
Medgar Evers College, City University of New York
DESCRIPTION: Founded in 1969 this state-supported college was named in honor of Medgar Evers, the tragically slain NAACP civil rights leader in Mississippi. It serves a predominantly African American student body.
DAYS & HOURS: daily
ADDRESS: 1650 Bedford Avenue MAP
RAPID TRANSIT: 2, 3, 4, 5 lines
PHONE: 718-270-6024
WEBSITE: http://medgarevers.edu-college.com
James E Davis Arts Building
DESCRIPTION: 30,000-square foot building was renovated into office space for tenants like local minority and women owned businesses; it is the role model for the Atlantic Yards project in including local businesses in the Black community; it is named in honor of James E. Davis a bizarrely murdered Brooklyn Council Member who was shot by Othniel Askew who had an unsuccessful bid to run against Davis for reelection to council; Askew was brought into City Hall by Davis to refute any charges of conspiracy against him; after clearing metal detectors and police presence he shot and killed Davis and was in turn shot and killed
DAYS & HOURS: daily
ADDRESS: 1135 Saint Johns Place MAP
PHONE: 718-221-2911
RAPID TRANSIT: 2, 3, 4, 5 lines
WEBSITE: http://jamesedavisfoundation.org/museum.html
651 Arts Center
DESCRIPTION: A forum for expression of arts and cultural programming grounded in the African Diaspora; programs that integrate art disciplines and humanities and connect their activities with the community
DAYS & HOURS: daily
ADDRESS: 651 Fulton Street MAP
RAPID TRANSIT: G, 2, 3, 4, 5 lines
PHONE: 718-636-4181
WEBSITE: http://www.651arts.org
Billy Holiday Theater
DESCRIPTION: produces plays written by promising, undiscovered writers; art gallery features rotating exhibits by up and coming artists
BOX OFFICE: daily
ADDRESS: 1360 Fulton Street MAP
RAPID TRANSIT: A, C lines
PHONE: 718-636-6937
WEBSITE: http://www.thebillieholiday.org
Mark Morris Dance Center
DESCRIPTION: Home to the integrated Mark Morris Dance Group and School of Dance and Choreography
DAYS & HOURS: event dependent
ADDRESS: 3 Lafayette Avenue MAP
RAPID TRANSIT: 2, 3, 4, 5 lines
PHONE: 718-624-8400
WEBSITE: http://markmorrisdancegroup.org
Jackie Robinson and Pee Wee Reese Monument
DESCRIPTION: Pee Wee Reese was the first white teammate to openly befriend and hug Jackie Robinson when he broke the color barrier in Major League Baseball; Robinson and Reese went on to lead Brooklyn to its first World Series victory 50 years ago; William Behrends is the sculptor
ADDRESS: 1904 Surf Ave at Coney Island Stadium MAP
RAPID TRANSIT: D, F, N, Q lines
WEBSITE: http://www.brooklyncyclones.com
Queens, NY
Langston Hughes Community Library & Cultural Center
DESCRIPTION: Director Sekou Molefi Baako and staff lead poetry and various other art programs at Black Heritage Reference Center of Queens County
DAYS & HOURS: Mon & Fri 10a-6p, Tue 1p-6p, Wed & Thu 1p-8p, Sat 10a-5p
ADDRESS: 102-09 Northern Blvd MAP
RAPID TRANSIT: 7 line
PHONE: 718-651-1100
WEBSITE: https://www.queenslibrary.org
Afrikan Poetry Theatre
DESCRIPTION: Poetry workshops during the week, performances on Fri-Sun nights; Afrocentric films on Friday nights; jazz and gospel concerts, lectures and art exhibits on Sundays
DAYS & HOURS: varies by performance
ADDRESS: 176-03 Jamaica Avenue MAP
RAPID TRANSIT: F line
PHONE: 718-523-3312
WEBSITE: http://www.afrikanpoetrytheatre.org
Jamaica Center for Arts and Learning
DESCRIPTION: Housed in a landmark neo-Italian Renaissance building, the center, celebrating over 30 years of service, presents professional theater, Jazz, and popular multi-cultural music performances; 161-04 Jamaica Ave in Jamaica
DAYS & HOURS: daily 10a-7p
ADDRESS: 161-04 Jamaica Avenue MAP
RAPID TRANSIT: E, J, Z lines
PHONE: 718-658-7400
WEBSITE: http://www.jcal.org
Hempstead, NY
African American Museum
DESCRIPTION: 6,000 square foot museum that emphasizes the historical contributions of African Americans to the development of Long Island; this Smithsonian Institution often presents traveling exhibits here
DAYS & HOURS: Tue-Sat 10a-5p
ADDRESS: 110 North Franklin Street MAP
RAPID TRANSIT: Hempstead Station
PHONE: 516-572-0730
WEBSITE: http://www.aamoflongisland.org
