Sandy Ground and the Continued Gentrification of Staten Island's Communities of Color by Chad Small

On August 1, a relatively new Young Leaders of Staten Island (YLSI) led the first annual “Path of Liberation” march along Staten Island’s former Underground Railroad route, beginning at the often forgotten Sandy Ground Settlement.

“Sandy  Ground is the oldest continuously inhabited free black settlement in  the United States of America, but needs to be further recognized as  such,” said Kevin Walton of YLSI. “Prior to the Path of Liberation march  most people on Staten Island did not know about the existence of Sandy  Ground, or the rich history and truth that makes it what it is.”

That August march spurred borough-wide calls for NYC civics curricula to include mention of Sandy Ground. Given  Sandy Ground’s importance to local – and national – Black History, it’s  peculiar that almost no Black people currently live near the settlement.

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