History with Grit
Recovering the Life of John E. Bruce and the Formation of Early Black Yonkers
The History with Grit project, supported by the American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS) Digital Justice Seed Grant and the Westchester Community College Foundation, explores the life and legacy of John Edward Bruce—a pioneering Black journalist, political organizer, Pan-African thinker, and independent historian.
· The project centers on Bruce’s activities during the formative period of the Black community in Yonkers (1903–1916) and his overlooked impact on Black civic life in Westchester County.
· Deliverables include a pilot documentary film, an anthology of Bruce’s unpublished writings, a graphic history book, and a digital archive to be managed by local cultural institutions.
· The initiative promotes digital justice, historical preservation, and educational engagement with marginalized communities.
Deliverables
- Pilot Documentary Film
- Anthology of Unpublished Writings
- Graphic History Book
- Digital Archive
Join us as we recover, preserve, and share the untold story of Bruce and the founding generation of Black Yonkers—empowering new generations of scholars, activists, and storytellers.
About John Edward Bruce “Grit”
John Edward Bruce “Grit” (1856–1924) was a journalist, independent historian, Pan-Africanist organizer, and Republican Party activist whose work shaped Black civic life in Westchester County and beyond.
· Bruce lived in Yonkers from 1903 to 1916—a formative period for the city’s Black community. During these years, he:
· Served as publisher and editor of several of Westchester’s first Black newspapers, including the Yonkers Standard (launched in 1907)
· Was an officer with the New Rochelle Co-operative Business League, a project that looked to forge an independent path to Black economic empowerment
· Co-founded the Negro Society for Historical Research with Arturo Schomburg in 1911, promoting Black history and scholarship
· Launched the Westchester County Negro Republican Club in 1909, fostering political engagement and leadership
· Organized civic and fraternal groups, including the Sunday Men’s Club of Yonkers (1903) and the Loyal Sons of Africa (1913)
· Bruce’s network included journalists, business leaders, churchmen, and activists—many of whom helped lay the foundations for Black civic life in Yonkers, Mount Vernon, New Rochelle, and throughout Westchester County. His legacy is one of scholarship, activism, and institution-building, inspiring new generations of historians, community leaders, and advocates for justice.
Key Organizations and Notable Associates
| Organization | Notable Associates |
| Westchester County Negro Republican Club | Samuel J. Davis, Emmanuel Eccles, J. Howard Harper, Ralph B. Page, William L. Ryerson, Roscoe C. Simmons, James Stephens, George W. Thompson |
| Men’s Sunday Club of Yonkers | John W. Aige, Samuel H. Bailey, Charles E. Conick, Sr., John R. Green, Jacob A. Hall, William Jones, Jr., Thomas S. Lane, John A. Morgan, Francis J. Moultrie, Charles E. Scott, Charles H. Smith, John J. Smyer, James T. Spinnie, Richard A. Webb, Osborne D. Winfield |
| Negro Society for Historical Research | C. W. Anderson, W.C. Bolivar, Ernest W. Braxton, Emma Brown, Florence A. Bruce, John E. Bruce, Mary Butler, C. Caroll Clarke, James B. Clarke, W.E.B. DuBois, David B. Fulton, W.T. Jemmot, L.H. Latimer, Alain Locke, William P. Moore, F.J. Moultrie, Veronica Nickelson, York Russell, Arthur A. Schomburg, James A. Stephens, Dr. Frank J. Thorpe, Lillian Urquhart, William Wesley Weeks |
| New Rochelle Cooperative Business League | Rev. Mark A. Bradley, James W. Brown, William J. Brown, John E. Bruce, Joseph B. Bullock, William Cary, Benjamin Carter, Samuel G. Craig, S.J. Crews, Henry W. Davis, Emmanuel Eccles, Theodore Fosque, Eugene Harris, Henry Peel, Frank Sheldon, Isaac Smith, James Taylor |
| Loyal Sons of Africa | Prof. J.E. Kwegyi Aggrey, Dr. C.D. Martin, Prof. W.H. Bulter, D.B. Fulton, Harry Martin, Rev. Dr. E.G. Granville, Arthur A. Schomburg |
Community Involvement—Grit By Bit: Finding the Founding Generation of Black Westchester
The “Grit By Bit” campaign invites you to help uncover, document, and celebrate the lives of the founding generation of Black Westchester. Through crowdsourced research, community storytelling, and digital engagement, we’re building a living archive of the people and organizations who shaped Black civic life in Yonkers, Mount Vernon, New Rochelle, and beyond.
How You Can Participate:
- Share Your Story: Upload family photos, stories, or documents from the early 1900s. Your contributions help preserve our shared history.
- Take on Research Challenges: Each week, we’ll post a backgrounder on a significant event and the individuals involved. Dive into the records, explore their lives, and share what you find.
- Join Workshops: Learn genealogical, archival, and newspaper research skills in our hands-on sessions—no experience necessary!
- “Are You Connected?” Campaign: Explore whether you’re related to one of the early Black civic founders. Use our downloadable name lists and genealogy toolkit to trace your roots.
- Earn Recognition: Top contributors will be featured on our leaderboard and receive special gifts, including custom mugs and medallions.
Official Hashtags: #HistoryWithGrit #YonkersBlackHistory #PreserveOurLegacy #CommunityRoots #BlackHistoryMatters #GenealogyJourney #ArchivalVoices #StorytellersUnite
Support
THE
Project:
The Indiegogo Campaign
The History with Grit project is made possible through the support of our community. Our Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign funds the documentary film, digital archive, community workshops, and public events that bring Bruce’s legacy and the story of early Black Yonkers to life.
How Your Support Helps:
· Funds the production of the pilot documentary film
· Supports the creation of a digital archive and educational resources
· Enables community workshops, research challenges, and public events
· Preserves and amplifies the legacy of John Edward Bruce and the early Black Westchester
Show Your Support—Choose a Reward:
$10 Digital thank-you and your name on our website
$25 Custom mug with project graphic + thank-you
$100 Medallion eligibility + all above
$250 Guaranteed medallion + personalized dedication + name in documentary credits
$1,000 Community Sponsor
· Logo placement on the project website and in the documentary credits
· Invitation to a special screening or launch event
· Set of all project rewards (mug, medallion, book, etc.)
· Option to sponsor a workshop or community event
· Framed certificate of appreciation
· For custom sponsorships, contact us at [your email]
Project
TIMELINE
&
BUDGET
OVERVIEW
2025-2027
Pre-launch Activities—June 2025 – August 2025
- Complete film treatment
- Launch crowdfunding campaign and other fundraising initiatives
- Setup web platform for the project team members
- Create recruitment material and application
- Headstone installation ceremony John E. Bruce
Preproduction—September 2025 – April 2026
- Draft Film Script
- Develop Character Sheets
- Sketch Storyboards
- Conduct community research workshops
- Website plan design, front-backend development & site integration testing
Production—August 2026 – September 2026
- Conduct interviews of expert guests
- Create film animatics
- Create pilot rough cut
- Create mockup of graphic history book
Post-Production—October 2026 – January 2026
- Finish pilot
- Edit, proofread, typeset graphic history book prototype
- Edit and proofread anthology of Bruce writings
- Forward documentary materials to archival partners
Distribution/Promotion—February 2027 – March 2027
- Soft site and full site launch
- Book launch party
- JEB Pilot Premiere
Project Partners
- Dr. Robert Baskerville, Principal Investigator
- Harold Mckoy II, VP of Strategic Planning & Partnerships, RISEUP
- Dr. William Seraile, John Edward Bruce Biographer
- Mary Hoar, City Historian of Yonkers
- Loren Chaidez, President, Yonkers Historical Society
- Mary Robison, Head of Reference & Adult Services, Yonkers Public Library (Riverfront)
- Marcia Cooper, President, BECZAK Environmental Education Center
- Jerry L. Bailey, Worshipful Master, James H. Farrell Lodge #34
- Dr. Dwanita M. Crosby, Ph.D., Mayor’s Public and Community Affairs Assistant and Liaison to the African American Advisory Board
- Raymond Dugue, 1st Assistant President General of the UNIA
- Juanita Alcena, Chair of Westchester Community College’s Fashion Design and Technology Program
- Deborah Krikun, Chair of WCC’s Interactive Technologies Program
Students from Westchester Community College New Media Project – ITECH 240 Class :
- Tyler Birch
- Mario Bordenga
- Michael Bunch
- Tommy Chuquisala
- Diana Demaj
- Gabrielle Green
- Isaiah Radcliff
- JR Richardson
- Alex Rizzi
- Jacob Rosenstock
- Alan Silva Gutierrez
- Rosane Teixeira
Join Us—Be Part of History with Grit
The story of John Edward Bruce and the founding generation of Black Yonkers is a vital chapter in American history—one that deserves to be preserved, celebrated, and shared. With your support, we can complete the documentary, expand our digital archive, and empower new generations of students, researchers, and community members.
Now is the time to act:
Share your family stories, documents, and discoveries
Participate in research challenges and workshops
Support our Indiegogo campaign or become a Community Sponsor
Spread the word and invite others to join the movement
Together, we can recover the legacy of Bruce “Grit” and the Black communities that shaped Westchester County—bit by bit, story by story.
Join Grit by Bit to lend a hand with research
Encourage sharing with #HistoryWithGrit and your other official hashtags