In the heart of Huntington, New York, the African American community stands as a dynamic and essential part of the town’s rich cultural mosaic. Their vibrant presence is deeply woven into the fabric of Huntington, contributing to its diversity and shaping the community’s identity in meaningful ways.
The Town of Huntington, New York was settled in 1653, as English colonists expanded their settlements on the eastern half of Long Island, while the Dutch occupied the western end of the Island as well as Manhattan. Enslaved Africans were brought to the Dutch settlement of New Amsterdam as early as 1626 and to Huntington by 1660, predating the formation of this country. Their story, as part of the story of Huntington, of New York and of the United States yearns to be told.