Secret societies have been around for centuries. While you may picture white men in robes belonging to such organizations, Black women have also played an integral role behind the scenes. The United Order of Tent’s Eastern District #3, located in the Bed-Stuy neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York, was founded nearly 200 years ago in 1847.

Established by a group of Black women who assisted runaways on the Underground Railroad and helped out in community efforts, the group is now

hoping to shed their “secret” title in favor of being named a non-profit organization.

Located at 87 MacDonough Street, The United Order of Tents was initially forced to be a secret society by the state of New York, according to their website. The group was not officially permitted to operate, though it was created to aid the Black community and assist sick citizens. Their name comes from their humble beginnings, which they started out of tents.

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Today, the secret society’s Eastern District #3 wants to continue their community aid, but no longer as a secret organization. They also hope to bring more awareness about their history,

writing on their official website, “Friends of the group are working to assist the Tents in revealing their history as a society. Eastern District #3 is now working to become a non-profit organization so that it can shed its secret title, and use monetary donations to provide more support to people in need.”

In an online event from this past March, several members of the secret society spoke about the group’s history and acknowledged their new plan to become a public, non-profit organization. 

Harriet Peterson, a longtime member and superintendent of The Tents,

stated during the event, “And we’re going to make our presence known in Bed-Stuy. They’re gonna know who The United Order of Tents are…what we’re doing and what we’re about.”