The students visited the Schomburg Center for Black Culture library and Museum and had a guided tour of the Apollo Theatre before having a last meeting as a group at Red Chilli’s restaurant in Harlem where there were many tearful goodbyes.
The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture located in Harlem, New York, is a research unit of The New York Public Library system. The Center consists of three connected buildings: The Schomburg Building, the Langston Hughes Building, and the Landmark Building. It is recognized as one of the leading institutions focusing exclusively on African-American, African Diaspora, and African experiences. Begun with the collections of Arturo Alfonso Schomburg 90 years ago, the Schomburg has collected, preserved, and provided access to materials documenting black life in America and worldwide. It has also promoted the study and interpretation of the history and culture of people of African descent. In 2015, it won the National Medal for Museum and Library Service. Today, the Schomburg continues to serve the community not just as a center and a library, but also as a space that encourages lifelong education and exploration. The Jamaicans and Americans went on a guided tour of the Schomburg.
The tour of the Schomburg was followed by a guided tour of The Apollo Theater a music hall noted for African-American performers. It was the home of Showtime at the Apollo, a nationally syndicated television variety show which showcased new talent, from 1987 to 2008, encompassing 1,093 episodes. The students got a chance to perform on the world famous Apollo stages.
Then the students together had a final dinner at Red Chili’s restaurant, prior to the Jamaicans return home. The final meeting was very moving, the students have bonded and their was a lot of tears.