Mission

The New York Public Library has been an essential provider of free books, information, ideas, and education for all New Yorkers for more than 100 years.

Activities

One hundred youth from the New York City area, ages 11 to 18, participate every year of this uniquely designed pre-college black studies program at the Schomburg Center/NYPL.

During this FREE program, Saturday sessions run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and use an a inquiry-based and project-based approach to teach about black American history and the global black experience. Junior Scholars attend college-style lectures and presentations, engage in dialogue with adult scholars, participate in guided peer group discussions and activities, generate individual research projects and portfolios, and create collaborative media and arts projects that grow from their intensive study based on the Schomburg’s vast collections, exhibitions, and educational resources.

Through this process, it is expected that Junior Scholars will increase their historical literacy, expand their knowledge of who they are as intellectual, social, cultural and artistic beings, embrace their legacy as African-American citizens, and learn of the lands and cultures of their prolific and trailblazing ancestors.