The Haverstraw African American Connection
Haverstraw
African American Memorial Park
The important history of Haverstraw's African American community is now commemorated at the African American Memorial Park, located at 41 Clinton St. Haverstraw, NY 10927. The park features a kiosk with displays about local history and the African diaspora. The waterfront location creates a tranquil atmosphere and allows visitors to feel at peace with nature as they enjoy the garden and water fountain.
The inlay of bricks in the park are inscribed with the names of local families and Brickyard workers, recognizing their critical contributions to the building of Manhattan and the State of New York.
A display in a kiosk also highlights the birth of Haverstraw's African American churches, as well as the culture, music and arts that were born here.
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"The park will serve as a testament to the faithfulness of our God and acknowledge the strength and contributions of African American people".
Virginia Norfleet
ART in the PARK
The Haverstraw African American Memorial park has space dedicated to art and sculptures. The first sculpture in the park was the Harriet Tubman Journey to Freedom traveling exhibit statue that stayed in the park from 4/20-6/7/2021. The statue received over 14,000 visitors in person and 600,000 online from all races, ethnicities and ages. Harriet's departure left a void in the park and in the community which prompted HAAC to look for permanent pieces of art to keep the spirit of community alive.
2024
Harriet Tubman
Beacon of Hope
Harriet Tubman is an American icon best known as the Conductor of the Underground Railroad, but she was much more than that. Born Araminta, she never learned to read or write, yet she achieved many great things and overcame numerous challenges because of her faith. She suffered a traumatic head injury at an early age, leading to pain, health complications, and seizures. Despite this, she firmly believed in God and interpreted her visions and dreams as divine revelations. Harriet Tubman's decision to establish her homestead in New York holds special significance, reflecting her deep commitment to the state and its people. Through her tireless efforts, she enriched countless lives and left an indelible mark on the entire United States.
The park welcomed this permanent statue of Harriet Tubman - Beacon of Hope in June 2024. This sculpture depicts the transformation of Harriet Tubman from her humble origins to becoming a symbol of faith, courage and The Beacon of Hope for others. In this sculpture, Harriet is a free woman, no longer enslaved, and is reaching down with an encouraging hand to the viewer. Upon closer inspection, the viewer discovers a golden key in Harriet's hand. This "generational key" inspires viewers to reach within themselves to unlock the inner strength to forge their own destiny just as Harriet did.
Harriet's foundation, a replica of the bible carried by Virginia Norfleet's mother, is a testament to the forces that propelled her through her journey. Her faith was steadfast, as she stood firmly on the words and promises of God. A devout Christian, Harriet was deeply inspired by biblical stories, particularly the story of Moses and the deliverance of the Hebrews from slavery in Exodus Chapters 5-12. Known as the "Moses" of her people, she proudly claimed she never lost a passenger on the Underground Railroad. At the end of her life, Harriet transitioned into eternity quoting John 14:3-4, with her final words being, "I go to prepare a place." Her faith was unshakeable and unwavering, remaining strong until the end.
ART AL FRESCO
July 2022 welcomed "IMANI" created by our favorite local artist James Tyler.
Imani which means faith, pays tribute to the women of the brickyards, whose voices were never heard.
On June 19, 2021, HAAC in collaboration with Orange and Rockland unveiled JunJun, the first of many pieces of art and sculptures to be featured in the park.
Haverstraw based, nationally renowned artist James Tyler created "JunJun" a unique colossal brickhead that "represents humanity without the presence of race, gender or other things". The face is based on African, Native American, pre-Columbian, South American, Asian, and western influences. Mr. Tyler's sculptures have been installed in over 30 parks, universities, and sculpture gardens around the country and he has received awards from the Boston Society of Architects and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. JunJun is a perfect fit for the park to continue to educate the community on art, culture and history.
