“This City Was Black – New York” marked a first for The Associated Press: a six-part, limited audio series dedicated to examining Black culture and identity in one of the most influential cities in the world.
Launched at the end of Black History Month after months of collaboration between the Race & Ethnicity and Digital Audio & Radio teams, the series was pitched and reported by then–Race & Ethnicity intern Jaylen Green and AP Radio Producer Haya Panjwani. Together, they combined beat expertise and deep sourcing to explore how Black history continues to shape — and be shaped by — New York City.
The series traced complex themes including education, religion, politics and migration, grounding each episode in reporting and vetted voices. It offered historical depth and contemporary context, examining how identity, power and community intersect across boroughs and generations.
Dario Lopez contributed visual elements that supported the digital rollout, helping the storytelling resonate across platforms.
Judges praised the project as innovative and ambitious, noting that AP had never before explored Black identity in this immersive audio format.
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