A Moment in the Sun

In A Moment in the Sun, acclaimed historian Shane White challenges the prevailing narrative that enslaved individuals in New York City faced a century of poverty after emancipation. Through extensive research spanning three decades, White illuminates a dynamic period in the 19th century when free Black New Yorkers thrived creatively and socially, contributing to a vibrant urban culture long before the Harlem Renaissance. This richly detailed account brings to life the struggles and achievements of ordinary African Americans, revealing a profound yet often overlooked chapter in the city's history.