The English Way – ‘Birth mother of Brooklyn’ honored with street co-naming

"

Dozens gathered in Crown Heights Saturday to honor the legacy of Dr. Josephine English – also known as the "Birth mother of Brooklyn." Family, friends and Crown Heights residents came out for the street co-naming ceremony at the intersection of President Street and New York Avenue, which will now also be called The English Way. The street co-naming came to be all thanks to a documentary started by one of the 6,000 babies thought to be delivered by Dr. English. Some notable births include Malcolm X’s six daughters and American playwright Lynn Nottage. "She couldn't walk two blocks without someone being like 'hey doc, you delivered me,'" said Tenisha Carrington, producer and director of “The English Way” documentary. The project, still in its fundraising phase, kicked off in 2022. Carrington and her team are asking for the public's help to get the story told. "It's really important that we're doing the fundraising," she said. "That's where we're at so that we can execute this project and bring it to fruition." According to the fundraiser, English was a pioneering OB/GYN who founded clinics and cultural centers in Brooklyn. "