RESOURCES
Welcome to a comprehensive collection of resources celebrating African American history!
Whether you're an educator, student, or community member eager to delve into the rich tapestry of African American experiences, this curated list offers a diverse array of materials to explore. These resources serve as tools for further understanding of local & national history, inviting engagement, reflection, and dialogue.
FEATURED
ORGANIZE
Sankofa Collaborative
In 2017, five New Jersey organizations – 1804 Consultants, Grounds For Sculpture, The New Jersey Historical Society, Stoutsburg Sourland African American Museum, and the William Trent House Museum – formed the Sankofa Collaborative. Its purpose is to help individuals in schools, museums and libraries present, interpret, and discuss African American history. They help build the capacity of individuals, groups, and organizations to learn about, present, and discuss the complex and difficult issues in the history and current experiences of African American citizens of New Jersey.
LEARN
1619 Project
The 1619 Project is a historiographical work that takes a critical view of traditionally revered figures and events in American history, including the Patriots in the American Revolution, the Founding Fathers, along with Abraham Lincoln and the Union during the Civil War. It was developed by Nikole Hannah-Jones, writers from The New York Times, and The New York Times Magazine. It focused on subjects of slavery and the founding of the United States. The first publication from the project was in The New York Times Magazine of August 2019.[7] The project developed an educational curriculum, supported by the Pulitzer Center, later accompanied by a broadsheet article, live events, and a podcast.
READ
The Warmth of Other Suns
National Book Critics Circle Award Winner by Pulitzer Prize-Winning Author Isabel Wilkerson | From 1915 to 1970, this exodus of almost six million people changed the face of America. Wilkerson compares this epic migration to the migrations of other peoples in history. She interviewed more than a thousand people, and gained access to new data and official records, to write this definitive and vividly dramatic account of how these American journeys unfolded, altering our cities, our country, and ourselves. Both a riveting microcosm and a major assessment, The Warmth of Other Suns is a bold, remarkable, and riveting work, a superb account of an “unrecognized immigration” within our own land.
NEW JERSEY
Explore more African-American history and visit historical sites of the Garden State.
The Princeton & Slavery Project
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Stoutsburg Sourland African American Museum
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William Trent House
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Sanfoka Collaborative
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WESTFIELD
READ
African Americans in Westfield, New Jersey from 1720 (2d Ed. 2023)
Immerse yourself in the places of historical significance to African Americans in the Town of Westfield. You can walk or drive this tour, while using our book, African Americans in Westfield, New Jersey from 1720, as a guide.
LISTEN
Oral Histories
Thanks to the Westfield Memorial Library, discover the unique history of Westfield residents through this municipal treasure.
LEARN
Westfield Memorial Library – Local History Digital Collection
From books, directories, newspapers, yearbooks, and more, step into the past with this Westfield, New Jersey extensive archive collection.
ORGANIZATIONS
Dive into the work of organizations dedicated to preserving and promoting African American heritage.
New Jersey Black Heritage Trail
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The King Center for Non-Violence
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New Hampshire Black Heritage Trail
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Sanfoka Collaborative
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HISTORICAL RESEARCH
Discover historical research projects that uncover hidden narratives and explore digital archives that offer glimpses into the past.
LEARN
The Princeton & Slavery Project
Princeton University, founded in 1746, reflects America's dual history of liberty and slavery. Despite educating revolutionaries, its early presidents were slave owners, with slavery intertwined in campus life until at least 1822. The Princeton & Slavery Project, running from 2013 to 2024, investigates the university's ties to slavery, exploring the slave-owning practices of trustees and faculty, the impact of slave labor profits, and the influence of southern students on campus discourse. Discover the project's findings and stories.
LEARN
1619 Project
The 1619 Project, led by Nikole Hannah-Jones and writers from The New York Times and The New York Times Magazine, offers a critical examination of key figures and events in American history, challenging traditional narratives. Focusing on topics such as slavery and the nation's founding, it debuted in August 2019 in The New York Times Magazine. The project expanded to include an educational curriculum, backed by the Pulitzer Center, as well as articles, live events, and a podcast.
BOOKS
Discover thought-provoking books that delve into untold stories.
Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
King: A Life by Jonathan Eig
Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson
The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson
The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead
The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead
Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
FILM
Discover groundbreaking films that bring pivotal moments to life.
13TH (2016) by Ava DuVernay | In this thought-provoking documentary, scholars, activists and politicians analyze the criminalization of African Americans and the U.S. prison boom. This piercing, Oscar-nominated film won Best Documentary at the Emmys, BAFTAs and NAACP Image Awards.
Selma (2014) by Ava DuVernay | Although the Civil Rights Act of 1964 legally desegregated the South, discrimination was still rampant in certain areas, making it very difficult for Blacks to register to vote. In 1965, an Alabama city became the battleground in the fight for suffrage.
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