Celebrate Black History Month in New Jersey with These 9 Free and Affordable Events
New Jersey towns honor Black Americans’ achievements during Black History Month in February. Its 100th anniversary honors a century of preserving Black culture, art, and history.
Carter G. Woodson founded the Association for the Study of African American Life and History in 1915, starting Black History Month. The “Father of Black History,” Woodson, preserved and shared Black Americans’ accomplishments and struggles. He established “Negro History Week” around Lincoln and Douglass’ birthdays in 1926. As it flourished, President Gerald Ford established February Black History Month in 1976 to encourage Americans to respect Black history and culture.
New Jerseyans may learn, participate, and celebrate this month at many events. Trenton’s West Ward Recreation Center will host “Black History Month: Pop Up Shop” February 12-13. This two-day festival features Black-owned retailers, letting attendees support local businesses and sample new products.
The Newark Public Library will play “The One and Only Dick Gregory” on February 14. Along with his son, Dr. Christian Gregory, and activist Larry Hamm, the comic will explore his entertainment and social role.
Rutgers University in Newark will host the “Black Boy Joy Conference,” a full-day event with seminars and roundtable discussions to foster strong Black manhood and identity and creativity in adolescents on February 16.
On February 20, Camden music aficionados can attend “R&B, Resistance, and the Road to Freedom” at the IDEA Center for the Arts for free. The concert by singer Mary Cross will be informative and entertaining with light refreshments.
On February 21, the New Jersey State Library will play “The Price of Silence: The Forgotten Story of New Jersey’s Enslaved People” for historical documentaries. Producers and historians will examine the state’s forgotten slavery stories.
Stoutsburg Sourland African American Museum will present “Black History in the Sourland Mountains” at Hunterdon County Library the same day. Visitors will learn how slavery shaped local culture and hear former slaves’ inspiring experiences.
To highlight Black entrepreneurship, Newark will host the “Black Wall Street Market” on February 21 with over 100 merchants selling food, crafts, and other things.
“Four Centuries of African American Soldiers” at the William Trent House Museum includes 400-year-old Black veterans’ stories and military artifacts. Experience history and hear from re-enactors and troops at this rare event.
Finally, Maplewood Memorial Library will discuss “The Importance of History in a Time of Erasure” on February 27. Harvard University professor Imani Perry and speaker Doreen Oliver will examine Black ideas, culture, and art, emphasizing historical memory.
Black History Month is celebrated in New Jersey through education, music, culture, and community engagement. These gatherings recognize Black Americans’ rich history and contributions and inspire the future.
Sources:
- National Museum of African American History and Culture
- Library of Congress
- Trenton City Official Website
- Newark Public Library Official Website
- Rutgers University Newark Official Website
- IDEA Center for the Arts, Camden
- New Jersey State Library
- Stoutsburg Sourland African American Museum
- William Trent House Museum
