Hidden Multiracial Histories of the Wall Street Area

See the Wall Street area with new eyes on a walking tour that brings to life the neighborhood’s storied past, with a focus on often erased histories of Africa, South Asia, and the Middle East as well as Islam. We will look at early settler colonial trade and diplomacy with Asia and Africa; a famous North African resident; and the colony’s role in transatlantic slavery and rebellions. We then jump to the turn of the 20th century to encounter mostly erased histories of Asian and African immigrants in this area that were active in shipyards, street vending, and the growth of consulates, academic exchange, art, and political activism in Lower Manhattan. Our last stop is Little Syria, an entryway neighborhood for most Middle Eastern immigrants in the early 20th century.

The tour will run 1.5 hours. Wear good sneakers, layers, and sunglasses.