Open-air preaching on a Harlem square is one of the oldest continuous public traditions in the neighborhood, and A. Philip Randolph Square is a pointed place to hold it: named for the man who built the first successful Black-led labor union and whose threatened march on Washington in 1941 forced Roosevelt's hand on defense-industry desegregation. Whether or not the theology is yours, the setting carries weight. It costs nothing and happens in full public view.
What to expect
The square is a small triangular park on Seventh Avenue, and the gathering happens in the open with amplification, music and preaching in turn. Expect a mix of participants and passers-by, seating on the square's benches, and people joining and leaving throughout. It's public and unticketed, and observers are as welcome as participants.
Good to know
- 2 or 3 to 116th St puts you at the square
- Free and open — it happens in a public square with no admission
- Bench seating is limited; most people stand
- The square is small, paved and level
- Observers are welcome; there's no expectation to participate
- Weather-dependent, as everything takes place outdoors
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Common questions
Who was A. Philip Randolph?
The labor leader who founded the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters and whose threatened 1941 March on Washington pushed Roosevelt to desegregate the defense industries.
Do I need to participate?
No. It takes place in a public square and people watch, listen or pass through freely.
Where is the square?
At the junction of Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard and 116th Street in Harlem.
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