Renaissance Ride

Where History Meets the Future of Cultural Marketing

HRR Celebrates History: MLB's Career Leader Hall of Fame catcher Josh Gibson

Delanie West

We at the Historical Renaissance Ride are thrilled to celebrate a monumental moment in the history of baseball and the legacy of the Negro Leagues. Today, we extend our heartfelt congratulations to Hall of Fame catcher Josh Gibson, whose remarkable career has received the recognition it so richly deserves.

With the official incorporation of Negro League statistics into Major League Baseball's historical records, Josh Gibson now stands as MLB's career leader with an astounding .372 batting average. This historic achievement not only honors Gibson's extraordinary talent but also acknowledges the incredible contributions of all Negro League players who paved the way for future generations.

This recognition comes after MLB's decision in December 2020 to elevate Negro Leagues' statistics to 'Major League' status, a long-overdue acknowledgment of the excellence and impact these athletes had on the sport.

As we celebrate this significant milestone, we remember and honor the legacy of Josh Gibson and all the legends of the Negro Leagues. Their perseverance, skill, and passion for the game have left an indelible mark on baseball history.

Join us in celebrating this historic moment and recognizing the greatness of Josh Gibson. Here's to a legend whose legacy will continue to inspire and uplift the spirit of the game.

Join us in celebrating Hall of Fame catcher Josh Gibson, who now holds the MLB career leader title with a .372 batting average. His incredible legacy, along with all Negro League players, is officially recognized in MLB's historical records.

🌟 #JoshGibson #NegroLeagues #MLBHistory #BaseballLegends #HistoricMoment 🌟

Congratulations to an amazing Legacy!


HRR Remembers Bordentown School of New Jersey considered the 'Tuskegee Of The North'

Delanie West

For seventy years, The Bordentown School in Bordentown, N.J., stood as a cultural utopia for young African Americans. Known in its prime as the "Tuskegee of the North," the school provided its students with education in a variety of trades. This year, 2024, marks 59 years since The Bordentown School closed its doors for the final time. Looking ahead, 2025 will commemorate 70 years since the school ceased operations. To honor its enduring legacy, PBS will re-air the documentary titled A Place Out of Time this Monday. Host Allison Keyes speaks with the film's director, Dave Davidson, and historian Clement Price, who features in the documentary.

Click to download More on the Bordentown School History

HRR Reconizes The First Black Golf and Country Club: Shady Rest Country Club, Scotch Plains NJ

Delanie West

Shady Rest Golf and Country Club: A Historical Gem

In the mid-1700s, the Ephraim Tucker Farmhouse was built on a 31-acre plot just outside Westfield, New Jersey. By the early 1800s, it had transformed into the George B. Osborn Tavern, and by the late 1890s, it became the Westfield Golf Club, with a 9-hole course and a farmhouse serving as the clubhouse.

During this era of segregation, a close-knit community of Black residents lived around the golf course, creating pathways to visit friends and relatives. Despite living near the golf club, they were not allowed membership at the white country clubs.

The Birth of Shady Rest Golf and Country Club

In 1921, a group of Black investors known as the Progressive Realty Company, Inc. purchased the former Westfield Country Club. They established the Shady Rest Golf and Country Club, the first African American country club in the United States, providing recreation and entertainment for all ages. The club featured golf, tennis, horseback riding, and skeet shooting.

A Cultural Hub for African Americans

Shady Rest became a cultural hub for African Americans, attracting prominent figures such as W.E.B. DuBois, Count Basie, and Billie Holiday. The club's dining room hosted these luminaries, creating a vibrant social scene described as "where all the rich black folks used to go."

Legacy and Historical Significance

The Shady Rest Golf & Country Club is the oldest African-American golf clubhouse in the United States. It housed the first American-born golf professional, John Shippen Jr., and served as a home for many prominent African Americans, including WEB DuBois and Althea Gibson. The club's musical legacy is rich, with performances by legends like Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington, and Billie Holiday.

A Place for Black Americans

The Shady Rest offered numerous amenities, including tennis, horseback riding, skeet shooting, attended locker rooms, and a dining room known for Miss Lillian's famous fried chicken and potato salad. Membership was selective, attracting elite African Americans from the metropolitan area and beyond. The club was a sanctuary and a place of pride, showcasing the achievements and talents of its members and visitors.

Commemorating Rest

As we reflect on the history of the Shady Rest Golf and Country Club, we honor its significant role in African American history. It was more than a club; it was a beacon of community, culture, and excellence. The Shady Rest stands as a testament to the resilience and achievements of African Americans, preserving a rich heritage for future generations.

Learn More about Shady Rest

Shady Rest Golf and Country Club on You Tube

2022 Newark Historical Renaissance Cherry Blossom Ride Honorary Marshall, LaMonica R. McIver, Central Ward Councilwoman

Delanie West

Announcing the Newark Historical Renaissance Cherry Blossom Ride Honorary Marshall , LaMonica McIver, Central Ward Councilwoman

Councilwoman McIver leads the official route to and through Newark’s Branch Brook Park and back to historic Military Park along with NHRR historian and co-founder Hassan Abdus-Sabur and the Cherry Blossom Ride volunteer bike marshals.

Get ready to ride! We’re rolling 🚲🚲🚲

2022 Newark Historical Renaissance Cherry Blossom Ride Honorary Marshall, LaMonica R. McIver, Central Ward Councilwoman

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2022 Newark Historical Renaissance Ride presents the Cherry Blossom Ride April, 9th.

Living Photo Booth Portraits with art by American Fiber Artist Bisa Butler

Delanie WestComment

Living Photo Booth Portraits with art by American fiber artist Bisa Butler.
The Newark Historical Renaissance Ride thanks Bisa for sharing her journey with Newark at For The Culture this past summer. We are in appreciation of her amazing body of work and for lending her art for the Living Photo Booth project. It was a dope evening of art and conversation. Making #BlackHistory

🚲 The Newark Historical Renaissance Ride 🚲 P R E S E N T S: For The Culture

#Newark #NewJersey #Arts #Culture#Photography #FiberArt#HistoricalRenaissanceRide#bisabutler #blackhistorymonth

Honoring Althea Gibson

Delanie West

The NHRR is excited to support the Honoring Althea Gibson Fundraiser To Benefit Youth Tennis in East Orange

A huge note of thanks goes out to the African American Graphic Designers Group (AAGD), artists Lafe Taylor and Donelda Iysoba for creating custom pieces in Althea Gibson’s image for the Althea Gibson Tennis Scholarship Fundraiser Gala. 

The artwork will be auctioned at the Althea Gibson Gala. You may also make a donation to the scholarship project Honoring Althea

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Donelda Iyizoba IG: instagram.com/four.ninety.one

Donelda Iyizoba IG: instagram.com/four.ninety.one

Donelda Iyizoba is an illustrator, based in West Orange New Jersey with a background in fine arts and fashion.  In an effort to create a new perception of inclusivity and beauty, her creations go against certain aesthetic restrictions associated with fashion, fine art and graphic design. Through the examination of her own African and Caribbean cultures, social media and world events she considers form and challenges color codes used to talk about culture.

Website: www.donelda-iyizoba.com

IG: instagram.com/four.ninety.one

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Lafe Taylor

Lafe Taylor

Lafe Taylor is a tech entrepreneur, business mentor, podcaster, story teller, cooperative director, graphic designer, social commentator, and last but not least an artist.

Lafe Taylor a Lexington entrepreneur and co-founder of a tech startup that raised over  $2.5 million in VC funding has been doing art off and on all of his life. Within the last few years, Lafe started putting more time and energy into the development of his artistic skills as they had taken a backseat to work and venture.

Lafe’s artistic influences range from cartoons, motion graphics, fine art and character development. His love for cartoons derives from the elegance of how simple lines can convey emotions and tell meaningful stories. Lafe’s art can be viewed via his instagram page instagram.com/lafetaylor. He also has his work available at https://lafespace.com

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Sporting Althea 16” x 20” by Lafe Taylor

Sporting Althea 16” x 20” by Lafe Taylor

Through the collaborative efforts of the Estate of of Althea Gibson, Leslie Scott Seale and the City of East Orange, we seek to raise funds to support the East Orange Tennis Summer Camp. This program is administered by the East Orange Recreation Department and runs for 3 weeks during the summer months. It currently services around 50 children, and our goal is to expand the program to become an incubator for future tennis excellence in East Orange.