Gov. Kathy Hochul has announced seven appointees to the state's new 400 Years of African American History Commission, including a local professor.
The Commission is designed to bring people together through events, activities and educational research to highlight contributions by Africans and African Americans to the country and to New York State.
"We must recognize and acknowledge shameful chapters in our state's past, ensure New Yorkers have a better understanding of our history, and fight racism and bigotry in all forms," Hochul said in a statement.
One of the seven appointees is Henry Louis Taylor Jr., a University at Buffalo professor concentrating on historical and contemporary analysis of issues surrounding the Black and Latino community. Taylor is also well known for his concerns with the redevelopment of shrinking cities and metropolitan areas through UB's Center for Urban Studies.
The governor made the announcement in Newburgh, where she also announced commemoration plaques to be dedicated in honor of Robert Mulliner and Robert Lewis, two victims of racially-motivated lynchings in Orange
County. Robert Mulliner was killed in Newburgh in 1863 and Robert Lewis was killed in Port Jervis in 1892.
