In March of 2021, I was invited to chair the North Cortlandt Residents Vision Committee – a working group of residents in conjunction with members of Cortlandt’s Town Council, Planning and Zoning Staff.  We were chartered to take stock of the current state of this section of Town and articulate a future vision for North Cortlandt consistent with the goals of Cortlandt’s master plan.

 

Part of this effort included a study of the history of the area and it was then that I first discovered the story behind the Peekskill Riots and more importantly, learned about this Paul Robeson's momentous legacy, both as an artist and a relentless advocate for social justice.

 

Considered a dark chapter and an emotionally charged subject, in the aftermath of the 1949 Peekskill Riots many locals chose to avoid talking about it. With decades of silence, this history had been all but lost to many who live here today.

 

Peekskill today is a vibrant and diverse community where people from many cultural backgrounds live and work together. The Robeson in Peekskill project is a grassroots initiative led by dedicated volunteers from Peekskill and its surrounding communities. As proud members of this community, we believe it is time to commemorate the Peekskill Riots, not only as a significant chapter in Peekskill’s history but also as a reminder that freedom of expression is a fundamental right of every American citizen.

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Our project serves as both a testament to this right and evidence of Peekskill's transformation from a town marked by violent intolerance of Paul Robeson’s political views to one where citizens – left, right, and center – can respectfully and peacefully agree to disagree.

While acknowledging that progress does not mean there is no room for further improvement, we are proud to be part of this community and grateful for the enthusiastic support our project has generated in Peekskill and its surrounding areas.

 

Wendy Talio