New York City has a rich and significant history in Black history. During the Great Migration in the early 20th century, many African Americans moved from the Southern states to cities in the North, including New York City, in search of better economic opportunities and to escape racial segregation and violence.

Harlem, a neighborhood in Upper Manhattan, became a cultural hub for the African American community during the Harlem Renaissance in the 1920s and 1930s. This period saw a flourishing of Black art, literature, music, and intellectual thought, with figures such as Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston, Duke Ellington, and Billie Holiday making significant contributions to American culture.

New York City was also a key site for the Civil Rights Movement, with organizations like the NAACP and the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) playing pivotal roles in the fight for racial equality and justice. The city was the site of significant civil rights protests and marches, including the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his iconic "I Have a Dream" speech.

In more recent history, New York City has been home to prominent Black politicians, activists, artists, and entrepreneurs who have made lasting contributions to the city and the nation. From Shirley Chisholm, the first Black woman elected to Congress, to Jay-Z, one of the most successful hip-hop artists and entrepreneurs in the world, Black New Yorkers have continued to shape the cultural and political landscape of the city.