The first African Americans of Peekskill had no choice in making the Hudson Valley their home. What they did choose was what kind of home to make of it—choices that were to shape both their community and the course of American history. Meet the African American sharpshooter
who helped swing the balance of the American Revolution, revisit a stop on the underground railroad and catch a glimpse of Paul Robeson through the tumult of the 1949 concert riots. Then follow John J. Curran beyond the headlines and behind the scenes as he seeks out the people
whose quiet, consistent contributions were no less dynamic in bringing about social change.
John J. Curran is a Peekskill High School graduate from the Class of 1963. He has been Peekskill's official historian since 1994. He is the author of eight published books, including Peekskill: A Photographic History (Arcadia, 2005). He composed the narrative and sequence for the historic videos Peekskill in Perspective and Peekskill on Postcards and edited and published My Memories of 100 African American Peekskill Families, written by Ethel Jackson (1997).