Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture

This is an amazing place to learn about Black culture. Be it in the panel discussions of taking a walk throughout the center. There is lots to learn

I definitely love that this world-​reknowned Library has made its collections user-​friendly and easily accessible to the community it most serves. The Schomburg creates events, activities, lectures and films screenings dedicated to Black Culture in the US — and if you’re already familiar with what they do — great. If not, make your way over there. Because when i say ‘user-​friendly,’ what i mean is, welcoming. Even the folks that come there for the lectures – standing in line waiting to be admitted into the auditorium will chat you up. The exhibits are beautifully displayed. My favorite right now, is a painting by John Greene, The Reception[?]. I cannot take my eyes off of it – but that’s just me. There is [or will be] something there for everyone i suppose at sometime in the future… just not all at once. So making periodic visits would be your best bet to make sure that you will find something to your liking. Whether its the regular offerings provided monthly — most of them free; the research library for which the Center was built; the multi-​media art exhibits, etc. During First Friday [there’s a DJ spinnin’[what i’ve heard so far is HOUSE & REGGAE, OL’ SCHOOL RAP] as well as some other events held in the evening, the exhibits may remain open longer than usual. Its a great seduction and one that will enrich you. Another plus, is that, you can
all/​most of the FREE lectures/​discussions. So on those evenings when the mercury dips below 0, you can cozy up to the warming light emanating from your laptop and listen, watch the exchange online :) Lastly, for some of their events there is also food served to attendees for free plus a cash bar! I suspect this [food] amenity is part of a budget the Library has for specific events. So, i’m guessing if its NOT in the budget — no food. On the 2 occasions when attended either a lecture or 1^st Fridays, there was food. I got just enough of the chicken and rice to satisfy me… think: hors d’oeuvres.
It just keeps getting better and better!

I love this place!
Sometime the exhibits could be a little meatier, but the programs, resources, facilities, and staff are all top notch.

I have always been fascinated with African cultures and the cultures of the African diaspora. The Schomburg Center lets me indulge in my curiosity and my desire to know more, to my heart’s content!!!
The center includes everything from art and artifacts relating to people of Africa, to archival collections focusing on the African diaspora in the US, Latin America, and the Caribbean.
It is a fantastic research library and we are lucky to have tools like this at our fingertips. A must see in my opinion. I was totally delighted at all the information and things that I learned that this center.

It’s a library, with phenomenal art exhibits, and a famous pedigree and it does not charge admission. That’s awesome.
I went here on a Saturday to check out the Motown Exhibit. The Schomburg is on Malcolm X Blvd — or what most would refer to as Lenox. It’s right across from Harlem Hospital and there’s 2 hour metered parking there. (Alternatively, the 2 or 3 are right outside.)
The Exhibit is better than I expected, with some handwritten stuff by Berry Gordy about the new musical. But what was breathtaking were the memorials to Maya Angelou, Amiri Baraka, Ruby Dee and Nelson Mandela. Dr. Angelou’s memorial has handwritten notes on a manuscript of I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings and a typed personal letter from James Baldwin. Amiri Baraka’s also contains handwritten notes.
There are host of events there and a rare books from that folks go to. But for me, just being in the presence of the work of scholars was enough. Go with a friend for a quick exhibit.

i went here during my birthday weekend to see the Fat Albert exhibit and the Motown Review. Both were awesome! I really enjoyed my time. Especially just being there surrounded by so much history and great of our african american icons!

I attended First Fridays on 6÷6÷14. It was a laid back atmosphere with a good DJ and nice staff. The theme was AfroPuertoricans. There was beer tasting in the garden as well. The event was ok but I took off a star because nobody was networking. You could tell that some people were regulars and they just congregated and socialized. It was a mixed age crowd but more than half was 50+, and somebody brought their 11 year old kid. Is this a family event or an adult networking party?

Great location and space to rent for any occasion. Central Harlem location in a historical organization. Make your event magical with competitive pricing and an excellent support staff !

Tonight, I went to a First Friday event at the Schomburg Center. It happened to take place the day after Nelson Mandela passed away. Before we partied, we paid tribute to the civil rights icon.
The event was free, though you had to pay for the snacks and alcoholic beverages. There’s also a food truck next to the library. Since the Schomburg Center is in the non-​gentrified part of Harlem, 85% of the people who attended First Friday were black. Much to my chagrin, most of them were well over 40.
I’m not that familiar with the Schomburg Center, though I’m aware that it has many artifacts of black culture. Come to a First Friday if you already have a date– during the summer, they have events in the courtyard and it’s nice. However, don’t expect to meet women here.

This place is astonishing. An immaculate building in the heart of a gorgeous neighborhood… I kind of want to move here. I was recently here for the first time for a lecture with Baratunde Thurston and upon hearing about the other speakers that frequent this place, I’ve gotta come back and often. Part library/​part museum, I could stand around staring at the beautiful art pieces. And it’s not impersonal like many other libraries: you can tell by the setup that the venue is meant for social events. This is definitely not your average musty, dusty library!

Lovely space, varied events.

So rich with history and culture! During the summer they have a free event, «First Fridays» on the 1^st Friday of each month. On First Fridays there is dj spinning cool 70s & 80s tunes and people dancing around to the music. They also have a section serving wine!
I had the pleasure of viewing the «Africans in India» exhibit as well as «Lois Mailou Jones». Both are definitely worth making a visit to the Schomburg to view!

Words cannot describe how lovely this establishment is.
I was initially sent here on a mission for my speech class but now I go here all the time to do some research on my culture. It is a goldmine I tell ya! The giftshop is also a gem filled with many books by people of the African diaspora, posters, décor and other beautiful items. I purchased a Malcolm X postcard for just 59 cents. Words can’t describe how much I love this place. Do yourself a favor and go!!!

Great place to learn about things you otherwise would not know. Not even in the big museums, which caters to mostly general /​tourist tastes.
I came here specifically to see the «Africans in India» exhibit (open until May 18) and was blown away! Did you know there were Ethiopian kings in Bengal?
I look forward to paying more attention to our public library events. Highly recommended.

My first visit here was for the 1^st Annual Black Comic Book Festival which was incredible in and of itself. *I got to be a part of history, so woohoo to that!
However, I was equally impressed and intrigued by the center. I cannot wait to go back and attend more lectures and discover their many offerings.

I adore The New York Public Library-​if I had to pin down a single facet of this city that I love I would probably choose its library system-​and The Schomburg is one of its crown jewels.
If you want to find rare, out of print books from the post-​colonial period, or fugitive slave narratives, or priceless works from the Harlem Renaissance this is where you should begin your search.
It’s one of many great research libraries located in the City, and has a plethora of resources to draw upon if you’re a student, scholar, or just a lover of American history and literature. For instance, I was able to find «Black No More,» a brilliant satirical novel written by George S. Schuyler.
If you’re in Harlem, check it out.

I used to live around the corner from this wonderful place. There are tons of out of print books, memorabilia and culture. They also have movie screenings, book signings and other events… It’s smart to get a membership because a lot of special events happen there in the heart of Harlem NY…

Fantastic and comprehensive library/​research center in Harlem that chronicles African/​African-​American experience.
Part of the
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When the Schomburg Center for Research and Black Culture reopened after some extensive renovations, they launched their new programs with an exhibition entitled, «Stereotypes and Humantypes,» exploring in part of how the 19^th century stereotypes of African Americans led to a history of African Americans trying to refute these racist remarks by reclaiming their own identity and defining for themselves how African Americans should be portrayed. It wasn’t just an incredibly relevant exhibition, but an ironic one at that, as the Schomburg Center is the legacy of one early Arturo Schomburg, who was once told by his teacher, «Black people have no history, no heroes, no great moments.»
Not only is the Schomburg Center is one of the largest research centers for black culture in the world, it is also a great piece of living history, for it has been the intellectual epicenter for all the evolving movements in Harlem.
The library was rebuilt during the 1980s by the J. Max Bond Jr., one of the most, if not the most, esteemed African American architects (his other big design has been the King Center in Atlanta, and his firm had been asked to design the ground zero memorial in 2004). Bond’s works emphasize the role of architecture in integrating the community, and this achieved in the design of the Schomburg library by the rather unassuming brick front. Though undeniably modern and sleek, Schomburg’s brick front, as designed by Bond Jr., blends in with the architecture of the area as if a continuation (and not standstill) of the Harlem’s rich history.
I had come to the Schomburg because I’ve been meaning to see the Aaron Douglas «Aspects of Negro Life» murals for a long time now. While I was at first impressed by the extensive collection, I also soon got tired of being lost in the library. I’m not sure exactly how much of the interior was remodeled since Bond’s original design, but Schomburg had renovated the inside of the museum, altering the architect’s original plans, and with the current plan of the museum, things are not only hard to find, but the flow of some of the exhibitions is disrupted as exhibitions are split up into different rooms flung across various floors of the library. Worst, when I asked people for what I needed to find, I got largely blank stares.
I finally found the murals in the octagonal reading room, and was about to go home, when I read in passing that Saturday was the only day the Photography collection was open to the public. Intrigued, I went upstairs to the third floor. As soon as I got off a woman barked at me, «WHERE are you going?!» Not a good start. But I’m glad I did. The Photography collection was housed in an unassuming quiet room; a part of me had expected some sort of gallery style presentation of a their collection, and was a bit surprised to find a research facility. The nice man at the counter asked me if what I needed to study. «Crap,» I thought. «I got nothing.» But somehow after two seconds of staring at him blankly, my brain kicked in and blurted out «James Van Der Zee’s photos.»
I sat and waited for a few minutes as the librarian went off to go find the pictures. I don’t know what I was expecting, but it definitely wasn’t what I got– an experience that pretty much made my entire weekend. They came up with two large boxes of Van Der Zee’s photos. It was an amazing experience to touch and go through so many of Van Der Zee’s absolutely breathtaking photos, much of them that I’ve never seen before, and probably can’t see elsewhere. The first box contained mostly portraits, for which Van Der Zee gained his fame, while the second has mostly the gorgeous cityscape prints that document the evolution of Harlem. Sitting there, shifting through photos that Van Der Zee himself may have touched and signed, I quickly forgot about the rainy walk here to the Schomburg, getting lost in the library, and everything else on my mind.
The Schomburg is definitely worth a visit. I can’t imagine a better resource for research in the field; and even if someone, like I, had no academic pursuits, but only curiosity, the Schomburg is still a great place to spend an afternoon. Really, go check out the beautiful exhibitions, collection of paintings, the Douglas murals, and of course, the photography collection. The Schomburg is a great monument to the efforts of people who went against the prejudice of black culture lacking history or depth; in fact, when Arturo Schomburg was later asked what exactly was black history, he replied, «What you’re calling African history, Negro history, are the missing pages of World history» — a brilliant rebuttal to the remarks of those like his 5^th grade teacher.

Gasp! How is that not a soul has commented on the greatness that is the Schomburg. Not only is it the citadel of black culture that has stacks and stacks of hard to find and out of print books but you can also attend events like wine tastings, networking events and book signings. Be sure to visit the room where you can go through the personal effects of people like Lena Horne and other famous African Americans. Definitely worth a trip to Harlem.