In a vividly illustrated presentation, author Amy Cohen will discuss the long and influential presence of African Americans in Philadelphia and how this history is reflected in monuments, markers, murals, and so forth. After giving a general overview of her book, Black History in the Philadelphia Landscape: Deep Roots, Continuing Legacy, she will focus on the fascinating history of the All Wars Memorial to Colored Soldiers and Sailors, a 1934 monument that sits on 20th and the Parkway, across from the Franklin Institute.
Amy Cohen, a Philadelphia native, is an educator, writer, and historian. She spent twenty years as a middle and high school social studies teacher, including thirteen years at Masterman School. Upon leaving the classroom in 2013, Cohen became the Director of Education at History Making Productions, a documentary company that makes films about the history of Philadelphia. Cohen is a regular contributor to Hidden City, an on-line magazine about Philadelphia’s history and built environment. In February 2024, her first book, Black History in the Philadelphia Landscape: Deep Roots, Continuing Legacy, was published by Temple University Press in February 2024.