ALBANY, N.Y. -- A new exhibit in Albany honors African-American New Yorkers.

Governor Andrew Cuomo announced the opening of the new Capitol exhibit on Wednesday.

Cuomo said it conveys the 400-year history of the state's African-American community and tells the stories of prominent New Yorkers chosen for their contribution to the state's heritage.

Former Governor David Paterson and former Comptroller Carl McCall were on hand for the announcement. They are two of the 29 New Yorkers profiled in the exhibit. Paterson was New York's first African-American governor, and McCall was New York's first African-American statewide elected official.

Paterson spoke about New York being a melting pot and why people should be attracted to the state.

"You should be in New York because this state will outperform all the rest of the states in terms of giving opportunity and giving that opportunity because of the content of people's character and their ability to generate revenues rather than anything else," Paterson said.

The exhibit also honors abolitionist and civil rights leaders Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman, and W.E.B. DuBois, among others.