February 21, Will Library, Yonkers. Workshop Brings John Edward Bruce to Life Through Heritage Costume Design
Black History Month Program at Yonkers Public Library
As part of Black History Month, RISEUP and its partners will host a special public workshop titled “History with Grit: Stitching Together the Past Through Heritage Costumes” on Saturday, February 21, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Grinton I. Will Library, Yonkers Public Library.
This interactive session will explore how historical clothing is carefully reconstructed for the upcoming documentary, History With Grit: John Edward Bruce and the Early Makings of Black Yonkers. The film examines the life and legacy of John Edward Bruce, a journalist, historian, Pan-Africanist, & community leader, and his influence on early Black Yonkers (1910-1924).
The workshop will be led by Professor Christel Araujo, Professor of Fashion Technology at Westchester Community College. She will guide attendees through the research and design process used to recreate period-accurate garments. Participants will learn how historical records are translated into visual representations, how fabrics and materials are selected, and how costume elements are engineered to reflect authenticity. Heritage costumes will be displayed on mannequins for close examination.
This program is one of a four-part workshop series led by Dr. Robert Baskerville, Executive Director of RISEUP, and Harold McKoy II, President of Executive Branch Entertainment Group. The series supports the documentary’s pre-production process and gives the community a behind-the-scenes look at how history is interpreted for the screen.
The project is funded by a grant from the American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS). Community partners include UNIA-ACL, Yonkers Historical Society, Black Westchester, Yonkers Public Library, James H. Farrell Lodge #34, Westchester Community College Foundation, Beczak Environmental Education Center, and Executive Branch Entertainment Group.
This initiative builds on RISEUP’s ongoing efforts to preserve and honor the legacy of John Edward Bruce. In August 2023, RISEUP and James H. Farrell Lodge #34 held a temporary marker ceremony at Oakland Cemetery in Yonkers. Through fundraising efforts led by Harold McKoy II and support from organizations such as UNIA-ACL, New York State Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins, the Yonkers NAACP, along with other community base organizations and local community members, a permanent headstone from Minozzi & Sons was installed the following year.
Additional workshops connected to the documentary will also take place at the Yonkers Public Library and the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture New York Public Library, as part of Black History Month programming.
Refreshments for the February 21 workshop will be provided by Off The Hook. Admission is free, but space is limited.
