7-04-2024 6:30pm

History Buffs: Explore New Jersey African American History Programs

Donnella Tilery Editor

The New Jersey Historical Commission, the African American History Program champions and partners with universities, historical societies, schools, and other institutions, groups, and individuals in a collaborative statewide effort to develop African American history in New Jersey. Founded by the late Giles Wright in 1983, it was recommenced at the Commission in 2021.

The African American History Program’s work includes a speaker and panel series to preserve, educate, and engage the public about New Jersey history and historical sites (many sessions are made available on the Commission’s website). It also stewards the Black Heritage Trail; directs administration of the Mildred Barry Garvin Prize; consults on Historical Commission and other Department of State initiatives and collaborations, including RevolutionNJ, as well as public partnerships such as the Annual Ma -rion Thompson Wright Lecture (MTW) series at Rutgers University – Newark. -

Noelle Lorraine Williams
Director, African American History Program and the Black Heritage Trail

The New Jersey African American History Program hosts virtual and in-person events including the "Black Is: African American History and Sites in New Jersey” series. Please visit the New Jersey Historical Commissions YouTube page for more information.
Website: https://bit.ly/NJHCYouTube

Selected Essays, Publications and Books from the African American History Program (1989-2021)

Juneteenth: New Jersey, The Last Northern State to End Slavery (2021)
https://nj.gov/state/historical/his-2021-juneteenth.shtml

New Jersey's underground railroad heritage : "Steal Away, Steal Away--" : A Guide to the Underground Railroad in New Jersey (2002)
https://dspace.njstatelib.org//handle/10929/24563

Afro-Americans in New Jersey: a short history
https://dspace.njstatelib.org/xmlui/handle/10929/18620

Black Heritage Trail
The New Jersey Black Heritage Trail was proposed by State Assemblyman Antwan McClellan with bipartisan support and signed into law by Governor Murphy on September 7, 2022. The legislation calls for the New Jersey Historical Commission to establish a Black Heritage Trail “to promote awareness and appreciation of Black history, heritage, and culture” that will “highlight Black heritage sites through historical markers and a trail-like path that connects the stories of Black life and resiliency.”

Under this program, the Historical Commission will work in cooperation with other state agencies, such the Historic Preservation Office, the Division of Travel and Tourism, as well as local governments, owners or operators of Black heritage sites, and others to identify a series of sites. The bill also names the New Jersey Black Cultural and Heritage Initiative Foundation as a principal collaborator, due to its mission that includes broadening, deepening and diversifying statewide participation in and appreciation for Black arts, history and culture.

The New Jersey Historical Commission recognizes the contributions of the inaugural African American History Program director Giles R. Wright, New Jersey historian Robert Craig and the Sankofa Collaborative on their work around Black history in New Jersey.

New Jersey Black Heritage Trail Page
New Jersey Black Heritage Trail Legislation

RevolutionNJ (RevNJ)
RevNJ is a partnership between the New Jersey Historical Commission, a division of the New Jersey Department of State, and the nonprofit Crossroads of the American Revolution Association to plan the commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution in New Jersey.

The African American History Program is developing research and educational materials on African American and Indigenous ideologies around freedom, land ownership and citizenry during this period.
Website: https://www.revnj.org/about