Reparations
This timeline traces the intertwined histories of Middle Church, the Dutch Reformed Church, and the lives of the Black people—both enslaved and free—whose labor, faith, and resistance built this city and this congregation.
With deep gratitude to the historians, archivists, and our Reparations Task Force, this page reflects years of research and fierce commitment to telling the truth about our spiritual and institutional legacy.
You’ll learn about Mayken Van Angola, one of the first Black women in New Amsterdam; the Santomee family, whose land and legacy were stolen by systemic racism; and the church’s early pastors, some of whom upheld and benefited from white supremacy.
As you explore, we invite you to reckon with this history—not to dwell in shame, but to move toward justice, repair, and collective liberation.
Solomon Santomee and Family
1642
Solomon Santomee (also known as Solomon Pieters) is born into slavery in New Amsterdam.
February 25, 1644
Pieter Santomee (Solomon’s father), originally from São Tomé and Príncipe, is granted half-freedom by Governor Willem Kieft. However, his children remain enslaved under Dutch West India Company law.
1659–1660
Governor Peter Stuyvesant grants parcels of land and small houses to at least nine African farmers, including Pieter Santomee. These grants are located near present-day Bowery and 4th Avenue.
1664
Solomon successfully petitions for and receives full freedom.
1660s
Lucas Santomee, Solomon’s brother, becomes one of the first Black doctors in the U.S., trained in Dutch medicine. He is granted 6 acres of land in Greenwich Village in recognition of his service.
1680
Solomon purchases a 30-acre plot of land near what is now 23rd Street and Broadway, adding to the family’s holdings.
1712
Following the Slave Uprising, the British pass harsh laws stripping freed Africans of the right to own land.
1716
Maria Anthony (Solomon’s wife) sells the last Santomee parcel of land to a white man, marking the forced loss of their family property.
1719
Church records show Solomon’s and Lucas’s children still serving as sponsors for each other’s offspring, reflecting continued family ties and legacy.
resources
The Middle Collegiate Church Reparations Task Force draws inspiration from the work of numerous scholars, activists, artists, and community members—especially Black and Indigenous voices. Below is a selection of key resources that have guided our efforts. While not exhaustive, we welcome your suggestions and recommendations at middlereparations@gmail.com.
Reading Material
- Agenda Towards Transformative Change for Racial Justice and Equality – UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
- “The Case for Reparations” by Ta-Nehisi Coates – The Atlantic
- Land Reparations & Indigenous Solidarity Toolkit – Resource Generation
- “Lenape & the Lenapehoking” – Events and exhibit at Brooklyn Public Library
- M4BL Reparations Now Toolkit – The Movement for Black Lives
- “Making Amends: The History of Reparations” – Reuters
- “Medical Reparations: A Resolution Paper” – The Repair Project
- “Reparations” – Cross Cultural Solidarity History Project
- “Reparations” – Racial Equity Tools
- Reparations Daily(ish) Substack – Ongoing updates on reparations initiatives
- Reparations in the United States Timeline – University of Massachusetts Amherst Libraries
- “The Time for Healing Is Now” – National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition
- The Truth & Reconciliation Commission of Canada – Insights and learnings from Canada’s efforts
- Reparations 4 Slavery – Advocacy for reparations initiatives
- Reparations Narrative Lab – Centering stories of reparative justice
- “What Reparations Might Look Like for Indigenous Peoples” – Cheyenne Bearfoot
- “Why We Need Reparations for Black Americans” – The Brookings Institution
Current U.S. Reparations Efforts and Organizations to Support
- December 12th Movement – Advocating for reparations and racial justice in New York State.
- kinSHIFT – Supporting Indigenous sovereignty and reconciliation efforts.
- Manna-hatta Fund – Funding initiatives to support Indigenous communities and reparative justice.
- National African American Reparations Commission (NAARC) – Leading efforts to promote reparations for African Americans.
- NAARC’s Preliminary 10-Point Reparations Plan – A comprehensive framework for reparations in the U.S.
- N’COBRA: National Coalition of Blacks for Reparations in America – Advocating for reparations and equity for Black Americans.
These organizations and efforts are actively working to advance reparative justice across the United States.
Faith Communities and Reparations, Racial Justice, and Reconciliation
- “A Christian Call for Reparations” by Kelly Brown Douglas – Sojourners
- “Dismantling the Structures & Repairing the Damage of Racism in Minnesota” – The Minnesota Council of Churches
- “Faith Communities–Designing a Plan of Repair” – Reparations 4 Slavery
- “Racial Reconciliation, Healing, and Justice-Making” – The Episcopal Church
- Report on Slavery and Racism in the History of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary – Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
- “Sacred Ground: A Film-Based Dialogue Series on Race & Faith” – The Episcopal Church
- “Support for Reparations for African Americans” – The United Methodist Church
- Princeton Seminary & Slavery – Princeton Seminary’s historical research on its ties to slavery
These resources reflect how faith communities are confronting their historical roles in injustice and working toward reparations, racial justice, and reconciliation.
Middle Collegiate Church is recognized as a tax-exempt organization under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Contributions to organizations with 501(c)(3) status may be tax deductible.
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