Fighting Dark: An Insightful Walking Tour in New York City

A new walking tour of New York City is shedding light on an important moment in history that isn’t taught very much in schools.

In honor of Black History Month, The Shed art center is offering a self-guided online audio tour and accompanying short film called Fighting Dark. This engaging resource features narration by artist Kamau Ware and tells the story of New York City’s 1863 race riots, focusing on both the city’s history of racial violence and the remarkable power of Black resilience.

Tour Highlights

The tour specifically showcases 11 significant sites in both Manhattan and Brooklyn that were pivotal to the riots. Individuals in the New York City area can embark on an immersive walking tour, while those from afar can enjoy the experience from home. Covering a century of history between the riots of 1863 and the May 1963 Children’s Crusade in Birmingham, Alabama, the tour provides context to The Shed’s current exhibition, Howardena Pindell: Rope/Fire/Water.

“We commissioned this piece from Kamau because we wanted to ensure that we could contextualize Howardena Pindell’s work, particularly the central video work Rope/Fire/Water, within the streets and history (and present) of racial violence (and resilience) in our city,” said Solana Chetman, Director of Civic Programs, in a statement.

Understanding the 1863 Riots

The 1863 riots, commonly referred to as the New York City draft riots, are often mischaracterized. While initially seen as a reaction to the draft, a deeper look reveals a violent clash instigated by white New Yorkers against free Black individuals during the American Civil War.

As noted by Kamau Ware, “Collectively our country has focused on the racial violence inflicted on free Black communities in the South after the Civil War, particularly during the Reconstruction Era. The insurrection in New York City from July 13th, 1863, less than two weeks after the Battle of Gettysburg, served as a blueprint for disenfranchising Black people before the Reconstruction Amendments were drafted. This history has remained hidden under the incorrect label of ‘draft riots’ for over 150 years.”

Engaging with History

By unpacking the complex past of race in America, especially in New York City, The Shed aims to inspire individuals to “walk, listen, learn, reflect, gain awareness, and take action in their own ways,” as Chetman stated.

For more information or to participate in the tour, visit the Fighting Dark page on The Shed website.

Andrea Romano is a freelance writer based in New York City. Follow her insights on Twitter @theandrearomano.