Black Futures

Black Futures is an intergenerational program that celebrates New Yorkers whose work aims to pave and secure safe futures for Black communities. This year our annual celebration presents New York-based organizations that celebrate Black communities and cultures. Join us for storytime featuring books on black joy, enjoy a step workshop with Tajh Sutton, make your own black doll with Clarivel Ruiz, founder of the Dominicans Love Haitians Movement, and participate in a scavenger hunt in our exhibitions Activist New York and City/Game: Basketball in New York. All are welcome!

Schedule of Events:

• 11:15am–12pm, Storytime
• 12:15–1:15pm, Step Workshop with Tajh Sutton
• 1:30–3pm, Black Doll Workshop with Clarivel Ruiz
• 11am–3pm, Scavenger Hunt

About the Workshop Leaders:

Tajh Sutton has been an arts educator, youth advocate, author, content creator/ influencer, and activist in NYC for 14 years who has worked as a teaching artist for organizations such as the Sports and Arts in Schools Foundation, Girls Incorporated, and the Union Settlement Association. She is a member of the Community Education Council of District 14. Tajh’s Dance Through the Diaspora Workshop explores the commonalities in movements from Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, and the States with special attention to contextualizing global Black history as a jewel in the pop culture crown and acknowledging the significance of everyday and often devalued Black social dances that become world phenomena.

Working to resist media and cultural messages that devalue Black and Latinidad character, ethnicity, and culture, Clarivel Ruiz began sending Black Dolls to young women in the Dominican Republic and Haiti in December 2017. In the Spring of 2018 she held workshops with Dominican and Haitian women to hand-make over 40 Black Dolls to ship to the Mariposa Foundation in the Dominican Republic to distribute to local young women. Ruiz continues to host a number of workshops for people from Haiti and the Dominican Republic to gather, create Black Dolls, and discuss race, discrimination, gender, sexuality, liberation, and decolonization.

Family programs are free with Museum admission and free for Members, geared to families with children ages 6–12 years old, and include a snack. Activities are designed for adults and children to complete together. 

Free with Museum admission. Registration suggested, but not required.