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PINKSTER- A Memoryambience: drumming, singingHeres a program from our archives.Just as communities evolve over time, so do the holidays they celebrate. I'm Jim Metzner, and this is the Pulse of the Planet, presented by the American Museum of Natural History.Pinkster was a spring holiday which came to the United States with Dutch settlers in the seventeenth century. The Dutch also imported African slaves, who joined them in celebrating Pinkster and who infused the holiday with their own traditions.Myers: At least for that period of time, you know, race is not much of a factor because everyone is enjoying themselves. And it is Pinkster, this celebration that brings them together. But race as a factor that divides is left outside the boundaries. Within the boundaries of Pinkster everyone enjoys themselves. It's a European institution that Africans are using to give expression to their traditions.Albert James Williams Myers is a Professor of Black Studies at the State University of New York in New Paltz. He tells us that despite, and perhaps because of Pinkster's popularity, it was outlawed by New York state officials in 1811.Myers: I think that political officials in Albany and elsewhere within New York felt that since Pinkster was a gathering for Africans that perhaps it could lead to a revolt and so I think it was really fear of the possibility that something like this could happen that we have to bring it to an end. So for all intents and purposes Pinkster is a memory, at least the way it was celebrated along the Hudson before 1811.In recent years, there have been efforts to revive Pinkster in New York state. One such celebration is taking place this week at Phillipsburg Manor in Sleepy Hollow, where these recordings were made.Pulse of the Planet is presented by the National Endowment for the Humanities. I'm Jim Metzner. Weve been listening to a program from our archives. If you want tohear more, check out our podcast.