Mama Joy Abolitionist Walking Tour

In honor of the exhibition Act Black: Posters from Black American Stage & Screen, join Poster House and Friends of Abolitionist Place for the Mama Joy Abolitionist Walking Tour. Led by local historian Raul Rothblatt and community educator Shawné Lee, this walking tour will offer an immersive public history experience exploring Downtown Brooklyn’s legacy of Black freedom, abolition, and resistance.

Inspired by the work of preservationist Mama Joy Chatel, participants will visit historic sites connected to the Underground Railroad and learn about the individuals who fought for freedom and justice. Along the way, the tour will explore how community memory, preservation, and storytelling continue to keep these histories alive, creating a meaningful dialogue with the themes of Act Black.

Meeting location details will be distributed to participants via email the week before the event.

This program is free to attend, with a suggested donation of $10 to support Poster House’s public programming. Donations will be accepted on-site during the event.

What to Bring/Wear

• A bottle of water
  
• Extra layers in case the weather turns cool
  
• Close-toe shoes (required for entry into all garden spaces)

Friends of Abolitionist Place is dedicated to preserving, interpreting, and amplifying the history of Black life in Downtown Brooklyn from the 19th century to the present. Through community-centered education, walking tours, and public programming, the organization connects local history to broader narratives of Black liberation, abolition, and resistance. Central to its mission is the development of the 227 Abolitionist Place Heritage Center, a historic Underground Railroad site that will serve as a permanent home for storytelling, preservation, and public engagement.

Accessibility Note: There will be limited seating on this 2 hour walking tour. ASL (American Sign Language) interpretation or a CART (Communication Access Realtime Translation) is available upon request. Please contact access@posterhouse.org or (914) 295-2387 to request interpretation services and to address any other accessibility needs. For other event-related questions, please contact events@posterhouse.org.