Students Connect Urban Health With Green Space—and Help Create an Exhibition that Honors a Nearby Burial Ground

On September 30, BMCC students led by Ethnic and Race Studies Professor Irasema DeJesus met at the M'Finda Kalunga Community Garden on the Lower East Side of Manhattan and helped create an exhibit by artist Immanuel Oni, honoring the nearby Chrystie Street African Burial Ground.
On September 30, BMCC students led by Ethnic and Race Studies Professor Irasema DeJesus met at the M'Finda Kalunga Community Garden on the Lower East Side of Manhattan and helped create an exhibit by artist Immanuel Oni, honoring the nearby Chrystie Street African Burial Ground.

October 21, 2024

On September 30, as part of their Health Problems in Urban Communities class at Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC/CUNY), a group of 22 students led by Ethnic and Race Studies Professor Irasema De Jesus met at the M’Finda Kalunga Community Garden on the Lower East Side of Manhattan.

“The students are learning about social determinants of health, the conditions in which people are born, grow, work, live, age and die, and how a wide set of forces, systems and policies shapes the conditions of daily life,” says Professor De Jesus. “The value of community engagement, access to green space, is part of healthy options.”

The students also learned about the history and lives of free and enslaved African Americans and Indigenous peoples on what became the Lower East Side of Manhattan. In particular, they learned about a nearby burial ground—the Chrystie Street African Burial Ground—that the M’finda Kalunga Community Garden was named in honor of.

Professor De Jesus explains that “M’finda Kalunga” means “Garden at the Edge of the Other Side of the World” in Kikongo, a Bantu language spoken in the western Congo and northern Angola, as well as serving as a second language for about seven million Africans across the continent.

Students help create an exhibition honoring a nearby burial ground

BMCC students visit the M'Finda Kalunga Community Garden The student trip took place a few days before the artist Immanuel Oni—commissioned by the Fourth Arts Block (FABnyc)—presented a memorial installation at the M’Finda Kalunga Community Garden to commemorate the Chrystie Street African Burial Ground.

While it has since been built over, the Chrystie Street African Burial Ground was active from 1795 to 1835 and provided a final resting place for an estimated 5,000 individuals.

The BMCC students helped paint the installation at the M’Finda Kalunga Community Garden, which featured steel mesh textile patterns which Mr. Oni created.

“They painted African textile patterns around the names of those buried, part of a display at the M’Finda Kalunga garden,” says Professor De Jesus. “They also helped clean the garden; sweeping, picking up leaves, trash and washing paint brushes.”

In the process, students learned about the Lantern Law that was in effect during the 1800s in New York City and required people of African descent to carry a candle or lantern if they were out after curfew.

The Lantern Law inspired some aspects of the exhibition at M’Finda Kalunga Community Garden.

Students paint African textile patterns around the names of those buried at Chrystie Street African Burial Ground
Students paint African textile patterns around the names of those buried at Chrystie Street African Burial Ground

“The exhibition and garden itself reclaim that area as a Black space,” says Professor De Jesus. “The African textile patterns that students helped paint extended on to a vintage light post as part of the exhibit. The lighting emanates not just the patterns, but the names of those who were buried there.”

A seasoned activist highlights community engagement

During their visit, students had the chance to meet Mr. Oni, as well as Bob Humber, a Lower East Side community member who has spearheaded efforts to maintain the M’Finda Kalunga Community Garden.

“A few of the students who are art majors asked the artist Oni how he got started in the business, how he got commissioned for the project and funding,” says Professor De Jesus.  “Also, they were all truly moved by talking with Bob Humber who has overseen the garden for the last 50 years.”

Mr. Humber, she said, shared the importance of advocacy work.

“He talked about what he did to help preserve the garden, and how through volunteer work and community engagement it is maintained and open to the public. He encouraged the students to join and be part of, if not this garden one in their own community. Lastly, he shared the importance of the burial ground and that we must continue to honor those who were buried here.”

Students reflect on creating dialogue about shared history

BMCC students who visited the M’Finda Kalunga Community Garden included Tariq Salman Afridi, Hamsa Islam Alsoudy, Takota Davis, Karolina De Leon, Johnson Dumay, Brenda Galicia, Cecile Gomez, Jaedine Hayles, Anjelie Jagernath, Sara Khan, Shada Lauderdale, Daisy Luna, Jaden McLendon, Zaria Mckithan, William Mejia, Jahniya Nelson, Azamat Nizomiddinov, Jessica Nugra, Alan Perlata, Jarling Rodriguez, Anzoumana Timite and Sophia Wu.

Human Services major Shada Lauderdale was impressed by the history that unfolded as she explored the community garden and learned of the area’s history.

“I had an amazing experience at the M’Finda Kalunga Community Garden because I learned about the Africans buried near this garden and how the owner of the garden bought the land to stop the drugs and crime happening in the community,” says Ms. Lauderdale. “He encouraged teens to volunteer so they wouldn’t get into any trouble. My classmates and I painted the African textile patterns at the perimeter of the garden.”

Science Major Hamsa Islam Alsoudy said that she was struck with the artist Oni’s creativity as well as the community benefits of an urban garden.

“I enjoyed the beautiful flowers and chickens there,” said Ms. Alsoudy. “It was wonderful to find in the beauty of the garden, a tribute to those who were buried at the nearby Second African Burial Ground in NYC. This art exhibit, as it highlights this burial site, is a crucial way to bring awareness to this important piece of our shared past, encouraging reflection and dialogue about the experiences of those buried there.”

Ms. Alsoudy also said she appreciated having met activist Bob Humber. “I appreciate his efforts for saving this wonderful garden. I’ll definitely be back there again.”

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

  • On September 30, as part of their Health Problems in Urban Communities class at BMCC, 22 students led by Ethnic and Race Studies Professor Irasema De Jesus met at the M’Finda Kalunga Community Garden on the Lower East Side of Manhattan

  • The Garden is the site of an outdoor exhibition created by artist Immanuel Oni in honor of the nearby Chrystie Street African Burial Ground

  • Students painted names on fabric and contributed to other elements of the exhibition

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