Fifth of July (New York) significant person Henry Highland Garnet
History
African Americans in New York had made preparations from at least March 1827, reported in the newly established Freedom's Journal. Nathaniel Paul at Albany led a meeting that "Resolved, That whereas the 4th day of July is the day that the National Independence of this country is recognized by white citizens, we deem it proper to celebrate the 5th".On July 4, 1827, New York's black churches held services of prayer and thanksgiving. William Hamilton gave a speech at the Mother AME Zion Church (then in its original home of Church and Leonard Street), the site of the largest celebration. He discussed the historic context of the event and the 1741 incident as examples of the troubled past, celebrated the emancipation law as a redemption, and proclaimed that "no more shall negro and slave be synonymous." Attendees at the events dispersed quietly, fearful that whites in their own Independence Day revels would pick fights.The largest celebration in New York City on July 5, 1827 saw 2,000–4,000 celebrants gather at St. John's Park, led by marshal Samuel Hardenburgh. Numerous groups participated; the first in the parade line was the New York African Society for Mutual Relief. From the park, they paraded to Zion Church and then to City Hall on Broadway where they met Mayor William Paulding Jr. Nathaniel Paul spoke at Albany on the same day in 1827. There was internal community debate about how visible public celebrations should be. Henry Highland Garnet and James McCune Smith recollected participating in the first celebration in New York City in their youths, the latter recalling diverse African diaspora celebrants, including from the Caribbean and Africa.
The seventh annual observance was documented in an 1833 anonymous travelogue by an Englishman, believed to be the Liverpool merchant James Boardman.In June 1834, the National Convention of Free People of Colour held at Chatham Street Chapel-Theatre passed a resolution against July 5 parades, preferring private community events held on July 4 for reasons of safety. The following month, racially integrated celebrations at the same venue on July 7 (which were already disrupted from July 4) were attacked in an incident that sparked the New York anti-abolitionist riots.