For quite some time the top floor of the Brooklyn Public Library on 581 Mother Gaston Boulevard in Brownsville remained unoccupied. This was the first children's library to be built in 1914 by Andrew Carnegie and to this day, many residents in the neighborhood are still unaware that if you venture to the second floor you can literally travel back in time.
Once you step foot into the Brownsville Heritage House (BHH) you are introduced to the history of not only Brownsville and African-Americans, but a whole world of culture and the true heritage of African descendants who were spread all across the diaspora.
It all started in 1969 when a community leader affectionately known as "Mother Rosetta Gaston" felt there was a disconnect between the elders and the youth in her community. She associated this disconnect with a lack of effort when it came to teaching the youth their history. When Mother Gaston started a group called the Children's Cultural Corner out of her living room, it would lay the foundations for what would eventually become the Brownsville Heritage House.
Gaston passed away one month before BHH opened it's doors in March of 1981. That same year Mayor Dinkins, the first black Mayor of NYC, approved a bill to have Stone Avenue renamed after Mother Gaston so that her name would live on forever.
Ms. Patricia Deans, who was also a leader in her community, is known for following in Mother Gaston's footsteps and carrying on the legacy of BHH by serving as the Chairperson of the board, Director, Curator, and Researcher of Heritage House. Like Mother Gaston, Deans dedicated her life to educating the youth about black history from 1992 right up until her death.
Deans, a New York City Housing Authority resident for over 40 years, was well loved in her community. "She was able to lay things out so beautifully and when you go into the room you see what I'm talking about," said Miriam Robertson about her predecessor's work in BHH.
After the passing of Deans in 2013 Miriam Robertson, also a product of Brownsville, took over BHH as Executive Director. When Robertson was growing up her mother often volunteered at the Heritage House and history was always a very important part of her family. "I am fierce about the heritage house like I am fierce about my children," said Robertson.
3 years later and Robertson has dedicated her life to preserving the culture and history in the community where she grew up, much like Patricia Deans and Mother Gaston did before her.
"The Brownsville Heritage House has been wonderful! It made me realize that you never really know your history because the textbooks don't tell you. And Miriam, she always brings the stories to life with passion and energy," said Elizabeth Mcfall. Mcfall is a 15-year-old Brownsville youth who frequently attends workshops, performing arts events, and volunteers at BHH.
While many historical texts taught in public schools fail to acknowledge the history of Africans before slavery, the Brownsville Heritage House tells it all by depicting African Kings and Queens as well as documents from the trans-atlantic slave trade, the civil war, and beyond.
For 35 years the Brownsville Heritage House, a 501(C)3 non-profit organization and multi cultural center, has been expanding it's collection of artifacts, historical texts, statues, figures, and trinkets while continuing to provide services and host events for the Brownsville community and surrounding areas.
On January 31st of this year the Brownsville Heritage House was awarded the Appreciate Black Award of Excellence.
While it is especially appropriate to recognize this institution during this month which has been dedicated to "Black History", BHH has it's doors open all year round and anyone interested can take a trip to Brownsville to enjoy the lifetime efforts of three incredibly strong and dedicated women who made it all possible. To Mother Rosetta Gaston, Patricia Deans, and Miriam Robertson, thank you.
Anyone interested in visiting the Brownsville Heritage House or donating can visit their website: http://www.brownsvilleheritagehouse.org
