Negro Week

The New York World’s Fair set aside one week in 1940 to attract Black Americans to the amazing technological, artistic, and cultural exhibits that would usher in a bright future for all mankind. The short span of days was referred to as Negro Week, July 23rd through July 28th. The goal of the Fair Commission was to provide a living picture of the American Negro and their contributions to the cultural heritage of the United States. Showcasing the benefits of science and art was in line with the Fair’s mission statement in 1938: The World of Tomorrow, Peace Through Understanding. With the world at war in 1940 the mission statement emphasized a new theme: For Peace and Freedom. Many Black families left the streets of Harlem for a bus or train trek to Flushing Meadows and the potential marvels of a new age. One such family was the Freemans. This is the story of their experiences at the World’s Fair and the troubling questions of racial justice that challenged them during the waning days of world peace, questions that still demand our attention today. Their story is worth knowing.