Arbengoch in NYC

My mother was invited to attend service at the Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem, NYC last week by a friend. The friend, a long-time co-worker was getting an honor for teaching at their Sunday school. My mother wondered out loud why they named the church Abyssinian (A one time name for Ethiopia). Since I spent most of my life walking up and down 125Th St., I better know this.

In 1808 (not a typo..1808) a group of travelers from Ethiopia visited NYC. In attempting to attend church service at The First Baptist Church of New York City they were told that they must sit in the slave section of the church (Slavery was not abolished in New York City until 1827). The Ethiopians refused and left that church with a few local Africans(or if you like, African-Americans as they had been here since the 1600's). They together created the Abyssinian Baptist Church a few blocks away. The members of this church 200 years later went to visit Ethiopia and reconnect with their roots.

So these Arbengnoch are heroes to many, not just us.




Update: For those with slight attention deficit issues Here they are with a techno beat.