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1,474 Views· 10/04/25· Today on TBT

Weeksville, Brooklyn: The Black City Buried by the Grid


Spiritual Alkemist
18 Subscribers

Weeksville was one of the largest free Black communities in America — founded in 1838 when James Weeks bought land in Brooklyn and turned deeds into power. Here, land ownership meant more than shelter. It meant a ballot, a school, a press, and a safety net for the community.

During the 1863 Draft Riots, Weeksville became a fortress, sheltering families fleeing white mobs. It built its own newspaper, orphanage, and home for the aged — everything America refused to give us, we built ourselves.

But Weeksville was nearly erased. The Brooklyn street grid cut it apart. Urban renewal displaced its families. By the 20th century, it was gone from maps, gone from textbooks — almost forgotten.

Until 1968, when historians rediscovered the Hunterfly Road Houses and brought the story back.

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5 Comments

BlockKay

16 days ago
This is good to know, really nice to see something like this, for us, our children.
2 0 Reply

K_Morgan22394

20 days ago
WE ARE SO STRONG WHEN UNITED
2 0 Reply

Nixon Musembi

21 days ago
nice history that will never be forgoten
2 0 Reply

AP 1NABILLION

22 days ago
I grew up in Brooklyn and never was taught once in school that Weeksville was a black community in Brooklyn that offered lots for freed slaves! I learn something new on TBT everyday. Thank you for this
2 0 Reply
There are so many places built up and occupied by blacks that have been destroyed all over the Americas…
1 0 Reply
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