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1978 BMCC Students "Invest in Us" March Intercepts a Presidential Visit for Educational Equity

The 1978 demand for fully funded accessible higher education directly mirrors ongoing organizing around tuition hikes, debt relief, and public resources across Newark, Philadelphia, Detroit, and Brooklyn.

Martín "Tito" Pérez: The Artist, the Congas, and the Demand for Truth in East Harlem

The demand for transparency regarding deaths in custody and the protection of street artists in 1974 Manhattan mirrors ongoing fights for community safety across Newark, Philadelphia, Detroit, and Brooklyn.

How 1965 Puerto Rican Organizers Bound Local Safety to Homeland Liberation

Connecting 1965 Manhattan to current news in Puerto Rico highlights how the pursuit of self-determination remains a continuous, living movement across regions.

On Porch Stoops and Corner Stores, South Ward Neighbors Shape the Conversation in Newark

Prioritizing face-to-face dialogue honors the expertise of long-time residents who know their streets better than any policy paper ever could.

Prospect Park West, 1970: Culture, Protest, and the West Indian Day Parade

In a city where Black and immigrant working-class families faced systemic hurdles, Carnival served a dual purpose—it was both a cultural homecoming and an active public forum for neighborhood advocacy.

1970 East LA Chicano Organizers Standing Against Vietnam Draft

This was more than an anti-war rally; it was an act of cross-community solidarity. The disproportionate burden placed on working-class families in 1970 mirrors ongoing fights for economic justice, draft equity, and community resources across Newark, Detroit, Philadelphia, and New York.

Los Angeles Ribbon Cuttings and Asphalt: The Human Cost of Mid-Century Highways

As federal and state infrastructure programs expanded, planners routinely routed highways directly through Black and Brown neighborhoods, treating established communities as clearable space for suburban commute lines.

Boston, 1974: How Roxbury Reclaimed Power During African Liberation Month

Looking back at May 1974 in Roxbury reminds us that local organizing has long carried a broad vision.

Pepsi, Knickerbocker Ice, and the Working Families Navigating NYC's 1950's Inflation

The names of the corporate giants, the origin of the immigrants, and the mechanisms of automation change across decades, but the underlying struggle for working families remains the exact same today.

Standing for Equity at Rochdale Village: How Queens Organizers Demanded Inclusion

Queens residents refused to accept a reality where Black workers were barred from building housing in their own neighborhood.

City Hall, 1952: Robert Moses and City Officials Plan 'Slum Clearance'—While Families Fight to Remain Rooted

In June 1952, city leaders gathered inside New York City Hall to map out the future of urban development. Using sanitized institutional language like "slum clearance," committee members made decisions that would ultimately uproot tens of thousands of working-class Black, Brown, and immigrant families across Manhattan. At

Morningside Heights, 1972: Shirley Chisholm Challenges Educators to Build Classrooms for Liberation

On February 18, 1972—just weeks after launching her historic presidential campaign—Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm stepped into Teachers College at Columbia University.

New York City, 1975: Beyond 'Fear City'—How Working-Class Families Navigated Fear Mongering and Fiscal Crisis

Recorded on June 13, 1975, this 10-minute WNYC-TV broadcast captures City Council leaders—including Queens Council Member Archie Spigner and Council President Paul O'Dwyer—debating the fallout of the "Fear City" campaign.

111th Street & Lexington Ave, 1970: The Young Lords and East Harlem Neighbors Reclaim a Sanctuary for Care