So, you're trying to find statues of Black women in New York? Good luck with that. Seriously. Walking around this city plastered with monuments, you quickly notice who's missing. It's kinda wild, right? We've got all these grand figures, but the iconic Black women who shaped NYC? Their stone and bronze counterparts are frustratingly scarce. I spent weeks hunting them down – some are prominent, others you'd literally walk past without a clue. Let's cut through the noise. Forget the generic lists. This is the real lowdown on every significant **nyc statue Black woman** tribute I could find, complete with how to actually visit them without wasting your afternoon.

Why Finding These NYC Statues Matters (And Why It's So Hard)

Look, New York tells its history through statues. Who's up there says a lot about who we value. For decades, that narrative largely excluded women of color. Finding a **statue of a Black woman in NYC** felt like searching for a needle in a haystack. That's changing, slowly. New monuments are popping up, finally honoring these crucial figures. Visiting them isn't just sightseeing; it's witnessing a course correction. But here's the rub: they're scattered. No central tour. Some are tucked away. Others lack fanfare. I almost missed the Shirley Chisholm one because the signage was... underwhelming.

The Major Players: NYC's Landmark Statues of Black Women

Alright, let's talk specifics. These are the heavy hitters, the ones making waves. The ones worth planning a trip around.

Shirley Chisholm: "Unbought and Unbossed" in Prospect Park

This one feels important. Shirley Chisholm – first Black woman in Congress, first woman *and* Black American to run for a major party's presidential nomination. Total legend. The statue captures her stride, mid-step, looking determined. It’s powerful stuff. You can feel the "unbought and unbossed" energy. But honestly? The placement inside Prospect Park feels a *bit* secluded. You gotta want to find it. Worth the trek though.

Harriet Tubman: Multiple Tributes Across the City

Harriet Tubman gets more love than most, thankfully. You'll find her in a few spots:

• Harlem - Harriet Tubman Memorial (Mannie Garcia Sculpture): This is the big one on 122nd St and St. Nicholas Ave. She's facing south, symbolizing the journey on the Underground Railroad. It's striking, placed right in the middle of a traffic island. Powerful, but noisy! Brings her relentless spirit to a bustling neighborhood.
• John Brown Farm State Historic Site (Lake Placid, NY): Okay, technically outside NYC, but a major pilgrimage site. Features a powerful statue of Tubman and Brown. A long drive, but impactful if you're deeply interested in her story.
• Seneca Village Site (Central Park): Planned. This is HUGE news. A monument honoring Tubman is slated for the area near where Seneca Village, a prominent 19th-century Black community, stood before Central Park's creation. Expected completion? Still a few years out, but one to watch eagerly. This will be a landmark **NYC statue Black woman** tribute.

Finding that Harlem statue? Easier than Chisholm's. But crossing the streets around it takes patience. Feels very *New York*.

Beyond the Icons: Other Important NYC Tributes to Black Women

Don't stop at Chisholm and Tubman. These lesser-known spots pack a punch:

The "Swing Low" Harriet Tubman Memorial (Manhattan)

Different vibe. On the Upper West Side, outside the former Harriet Tubman School (now PS 154). More intimate than the Harlem piece. Depicts her leading a child. Feels personal. Easy to miss if you're not looking.

Alston/Hartwell Historic Women's Rights Pioneers Monument (Central Park)

History made! First statue of real women in Central Park (finally!). Features Sojourner Truth, Susan B. Anthony, and Elizabeth Cady Stanton. Sojourner Truth, the pioneering Black abolitionist and women's rights activist, is central. Crucially, it shows them collaborating – not just standing around. Location is prime: Literary Walk near 68th St.

Elizabeth Jennings Graham Plaque (Lower Manhattan)

Not a statue, but vital history. A plaque on the J&R building (Park Row near Beekman St) marks where schoolteacher Elizabeth Jennings Graham was forcibly removed from a "whites-only" streetcar in 1854. She sued and WON, challenging segregation decades before Rosa Parks. Her bravery paved the way. Easy to miss this modest plaque – look up!

Billie Holiday in Harlem (Planned)

Another one on the horizon! A monument to the legendary jazz singer Billie Holiday is planned for Harlem (specific location TBD). Fundraising and design are underway. This will be a major cultural addition to the **nyc statue Black woman** landscape.

Planning Your NYC Black Women Statues Tour: Practical Logistics

Don't just wander. A little planning saves hours and sore feet. Talking from experience here – I learned the hard way.

Getting Around Efficiently

Subway is king. Forget driving. Seriously. Parking near these spots? Nightmare fuel. Here's the breakdown:

• Shirley Chisholm (Prospect Park): Q to Parkside Ave. Walk into park towards Parkside/Ocean entrance.
• Harriet Tubman (Harlem): A/B/C/D to 125th St, then walk west to St. Nicholas Ave & 122nd St. Or take M3 bus.
• Women's Rights Monument (Central Park): 1/2/3 or B/C to 72nd St. Enter park, head towards Literary Walk.
• Elizabeth Jennings Plaque: 4/5/6 to Brooklyn Bridge-City Hall; R/W to City Hall; J/Z to Chambers St. Walk to Park Row & Beekman St.

Use the MTA app or Google Maps for real-time directions. Trust them more than vague park signs.

Timing Your Visits

Most statues are outdoors and accessible 24/7, BUT:

• Daylight Recommended: Seeing details and taking photos is way better during the day. Safety is also better in busy parks during daylight.
• Weather Matters: That glorious Chisholm statue looks less glorious in pouring rain. Check the forecast. Spring/Fall are ideal.
• Weekday vs Weekend: Central Park and Prospect Park get crowded on nice weekends. Go early morning or on a weekday for quieter contemplation.

Think about combining visits geographically. Don't try to hit Downtown and Harlem in one scorching afternoon. It's brutal.

Common Questions About NYC Statues of Black Women (FAQ)

Here's what people *actually* ask when hunting for these sites:

Why are there so few statues of Black women in NYC?

Oof, loaded question. History, pure and simple. Statues were funded and chosen by those in power, who for centuries were predominantly white men. They prioritized honoring figures like them. There's also the cost and lengthy process involved. Thankfully, major efforts are underway (like the She Built NYC initiative) to correct this imbalance, leading to new monuments like Shirley Chisholm's and the planned ones for Billie Holiday and Central Park's Tubman.

Where exactly is the Shirley Chisholm statue in Prospect Park? I got lost last time!

Totally get it! Head to the Parkside Avenue & Ocean Avenue entrance (Brooklyn). Once inside the park, look immediately to your left (south). There's a paved path leading slightly downhill. Follow that path for about 2-3 minutes. It's in a plaza area, hard to miss once you're on that path. Don't rely solely on the main park maps – they aren't always super detailed for specific statues.

Is the Harriet Tubman statue in Harlem easy to get to?

Getting *near* it is easy (subway to 125th). Getting *to* it requires crossing busy Frederick Douglass Blvd and St. Nicholas Ave carefully. The statue sits on a large traffic island at the intersection of St. Nicholas Ave and W 122nd St. Use crosswalks, obey signals – traffic moves fast here. Once on the island, it's straightforward. Just be a vigilant pedestrian.

Are there any statues of Black women planned for the future?

Absolutely! It's the most exciting shift. Keep an eye on:

• Harriet Tubman in Central Park (Seneca Village Site): This is a major project honoring Tubman near the location of the historic Black community displaced for the park.
• Billie Holiday Monument in Harlem: Planned tribute to the jazz icon.

Is there a cost to see these NYC statues of Black women?

Nope! Zero cost. Zip. Nada. All the statues and plaques mentioned are in public parks or on public streets. They are freely accessible to everyone. Your only cost is subway fare or your own snacks!

What's the best way to learn more about the women these statues honor?

The plaques at the sites give basic info. For deeper dives:

• Shirley Chisholm: Read "Unbought and Unbossed" (her autobiography) or Barbara Winslow's biography. Watch the documentary "Chisholm '72: Unbought & Unbossed".
• Harriet Tubman: Catherine Clinton's "Harriet Tubman: The Road to Freedom" is excellent. The National Park Service sites in Maryland and Auburn, NY, are dedicated to her life.
• Sojourner Truth: Her "Narrative of Sojourner Truth" is foundational. Nell Irvin Painter's biography "Sojourner Truth: A Life, A Symbol" is highly regarded.
• Elizabeth Jennings Graham: Look for articles by NYC historians like Leslie M. Harris; the NYC Parks Department page on the plaque has a good summary.
• Billie Holiday: Her autobiography "Lady Sings the Blues" (take with a grain of salt) and biographies by Donald Clarke or Julia Blackburn offer insights.

The Future: More NYC Statues Black Women Deserve

Seeing Shirley Chisholm finally standing tall is amazing. But the list of deserving Black women from NYC history is long. Painfully long. Where's the monument to:

• Madam C.J. Walker? First Black female self-made millionaire in the US? Built her empire right here.
• Ella Baker? Giant of the Civil Rights Movement, organizing brilliance behind the scenes.
• Audre Lorde? Iconic poet, feminist, warrior who called Staten Island home.
• Pauline Powell? Harlem Renaissance sculptor whose work deserves wider recognition?

The planned monuments (Tubman in CP, Billie Holiday) are fantastic steps. But the momentum needs to keep going. Pushing for these honors keeps their vital contributions visible in the city they helped build. Every new **nyc statue Black woman** erected makes the city's story richer and truer.

Wrapping It Up: Your Action Plan

Finding these powerful tributes shouldn't be a scavenger hunt. Hopefully, this guide flattens the learning curve.

• Must-See: Shirley Chisholm (Prospect Park), Harriet Tubman (Harlem), Women's Rights Pioneers Monument featuring Sojourner Truth (Central Park).
• Important Context: Elizabeth Jennings Graham Plaque (Downtown).
• On the Horizon: Harriet Tubman (Central Park - Seneca Village site), Billie Holiday (Harlem).

Use the tables for practical navigation. Check the FAQ before you go. Share your visits – raising awareness matters. These monuments are more than statues; they're overdue chapters of New York's story finally being told in bronze and stone. Seeing that Shirley Chisholm statue for the first time? Yeah, it hit me. Hard. It felt like a long-awaited correction. Go see them. Let them spark conversations. These **nyc statue Black woman** monuments are rewriting the public landscape, one powerful figure at a time.