New Black Renaissance Documentary Premieres

By Jennifer L. Warren

NEWBURGH – Informative, powerful and personal living Newburgh, Black history once again returned to the big screen Saturday afternoon, embraced with an equal measure of unwavering gratitude, pride and love as a similar groundbreaking venture was a year ago.
Guests inside the picturesque, Hudson River backdrop of Kaplan Hall of Newburgh’s Orange County Community College were treated to the premiere of the documentary, Newburgh’s Black Renaissance, a follow up to its initial 2025 undertaking: The Spirit of Sankofa.

Interwoven with “Echoes of Newburgh,” the latest up-close-and-personal ensemble of raw and candid interviews with 10 of its City’s living legends once again poignantly unraveled not only treasured dialogue detailing a golden era prior to the advent of devastating urban renewal, but also provided an array of beautiful visual images taken from a wide range of angles.

“I thank you, and the generations after this will continue to thank you,” said Joy Young, whose involvement with both films traces back to 2022 when the seeds were planted: She was the Housing Chair for NAACP of Newburgh/Highland Falls and was asked to oversee a project of the authentic assemble of Newburgh interviews, recalling its Black history.

Although that venture never materialized, Young, determined to have the vision realized, coordinated with a talented, local filmmaker, Paul Thompson, as well as several other creative souls and the Sankofa Project began to take shape, receiving a tremendous opening reception, picking up more momentum as it was viewed at community events throughout the year. The result was a strong desire to see more and the birth of the 23 minute, six month undertaking, “Newburgh’s Black Renaissance.”

“Every city has a story,” the narrator, Newburgh native and artist, AYO Nish!, reveals as images shot from above Newburgh’s iconic Hudson River and the Water Street locale backdrop fill the screen. “Some places are held together by more than brick and mortar,” the narrator continues, adding how Newburgh’s fortitude and “family city” exists on pillars of faith, family and God as images of its many churches envelop the screen; “Faith wasn’t just practiced on Sundays, and people showed up for one another and helped each other out.”

As the narrator, AYO Nish!, guides us along, detailing Newburgh’s deep, rich Black history, we are intermittently invited into the private lives and words of 10 legendary Newburgh people who have potent connections to the City they dearly love. Elaborating upon Sankofa’s stories, interviewees allow us to learn more about the whys behind their ancestors coming to the City: farming and factory work among them. We also get a glimpse into how the hard work, focus and determination helped their revered family trailblazers achieve the magnificent American Dream of home ownership, family, and proud-purposeful entrepreneurship while contributing to the rise of their cherished City.

“People used their talents.”

“It was a great location with New York City just 60 minutes away.”

“Newburgh was beautiful; people had their houses and gardens.”

“There was a strong black economic base on Water Street; it was a magical hub.”

We further experience-feel the lows right alongside them. Unraveling first-hand memories of the devastating impact of the 1960’s Urban Renewal phase of their beloved City, the viewer is made privy to its very real, personal impact.

“For the black community it was not progress.”

“They destroyed Water Street.”

“I believe my grandmother died from a broken heart from it,” an emotional Lillian Howard, one of the interviewees relays.

Shifting to present day and some of the rising success stories that have blossomed despite the lingering obstacles that have been endured and remain, the short film ends on notes of resilience, hope and a continued commitment to preserve and honor the remarkable past, allowing it to inspire others to continue to build upon its lessons and legacy, concluding with the challenge: “They built it; now we have to prove we can keep it.”

Support, including from several political dignitaries, to that end could be spotted throughout the packed room, all of whom were captivated by the content and messages of the film.

“Congratulations on a project that will continue to live on in time,” said Congressman, Pat Ryan about the second film narrative unveiling the priceless history 10 people possess, courageously and openly shared so that generations who follow can benefit. “I feel renewal and righteousness right here in this room today.”

For the veteran filmmaker Thompson, this piece, similar to the Sankofa, one carried its own special pearls.

“The most memorable part of this whole project is allowing these very important people who were a huge part of Newburgh’s history an opportunity to talk and tell their stories,” said Thompson, who would love to see the films become “databases of history” that can be accessed by all. “it’s very rare that people get to hear local history recorded on a bigger stage, and hear actual real happenings-truth from people that can’t become washed away.”

The 10 interviewees whose remarkable journeys would not have made this film possible included; Lillian Howard, Pastor Ed Obie, Mary Coleman, Sabrina Dolfinger, Yvonndro Sims-Lindsay, Maxine V. Warner Burton, Melvin Allen, Hamilton Burger, Linda Lewis Burger, and Pastor Charl McRae.