Greenburgh to create permanent memorial to Black Lives Matter movement

It's currently a bland slab of concrete, but in a few months, the Manhattan Avenue Underpass under I-287 in White Plains will be transformed into an urban museum of sorts, depicting more than 400 years of Black history in America.

News 12 Staff

Feb 25, 2021, 2:23 PM

Updated 1,149 days ago

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As News 12 celebrates Black History Month, we're spotlighting a Westchester town that's taking steps to create a permanent memorial to the Black Lives Matter movement.
It's currently a bland slab of concrete, but in a few months, the Manhattan Avenue Underpass under I-287 in White Plains will be transformed into an urban museum of sorts, depicting more than 400 years of Black history in America.
"This mural will depict that struggle, but it will also depict the successes that Blacks have managed to achieve, despite the kind of limitations that have been placed on their lives," says Sarah Bracey White, director of art and culture in Greenburgh.
The Black Lives Matter mural is just one aspect of a three-part project now underway in Greenburgh. It's a project that was inspired by the nationwide Black Lives Matter movement.
"It's very important to us to make sure that the public and the students involved understand that it's more than just a slogan...it's more than just a moment in time," says Greenburgh Councilman Ken Jones.
The first part of Greenburgh's Black Lives Matter project will be to create and place signs at various entry points into the town, including on Tarrytown road Route 119. The signs will say, "All Lives Can't Matter Until Black Lives Matter."
Another part of the project includes hanging banners created by students on some town buildings.
The mural will be created by local artists. The goal is to have it finished by summer.


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