A Story that Needs to Be Told

A public art initiative celebrating the lives of enslaved Africans who lived at the Philipsburgh Manner Hall in Yonkers NY—six of whom were the first to be manumitted by law in the United States in 1799, 64 years before the Emancipation Proclamation.

A Story that Needs to Be Told

The Enslaved Africans Rain Garden is Artist Vinnie Bagwellʼs vision. It is focused on remembering the lives, the feelings, and the legacy of men, women, and children who were stripped of their human rights, and were among the first to be manumitted/freed by law 64 years before the Emancipation Proclamation. Her candid images of daily life, rendered in the vernacular of bronze sculpture, are a testament to the resounding triumph of the human spirit.

News About The Enslaved Africans Rain Garden

Calendar of Events

The five life-sized bronze sculptures for the Enslaved Africans’ Rain Garden will be on exhibition at the Yonkers Riverfront Library–located in the atrium at One Larkin Plaza, Yonkers, New York–until permanent installation and dedication.

About the Artist

Vinnie Bagwell has always been an agent for social, educational, and economic growth in her community via the arts. She is a powerful storyteller for the African diaspora who incorporates the story in a finely-tuned, visual portrayal of historical events. Read More »

Civic Engagement & Support

Public forums, exhibitions, artist talks, and social media enable viewers to learn about local history and the process of creating art for public places.
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Enslaved Africans Rain Garden

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