Zohran Mamdani: “In 1838, 11 years after New York outlawed slavery, a…”

“An opportunity to begin anew. Those opportunities, like everything in New York City, are not given, they are won. In 1838, 11 years after New York outlawed slavery, a recently emancipated black man by the name of James Weeks sought to begin anew as well and to help hundreds of others do the same. He bought property in Brooklyn, won himself the right to vote, and sold lots to others newly freed. When they landed in New York harbor, they knew they had something waiting for them that they had never had before.” (03:47–03:58)

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