Part of the 吃瓜黑料 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 吃瓜黑料. Founded by the late Giles Wright in 1983, it was recommenced at the Commission in 2021.
The African American History Program鈥檚 work includes a speaker and panel series to preserve, educate, and engage the public about 吃瓜黑料 history and historical sites (many sessions are made available on the Commission鈥檚 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 Marion Thompson Wright Lecture (MTW) series at Rutgers University 鈥� Newark.
The 吃瓜黑料 Historical Commission recognizes the contributions of the inaugural African American History Program director Giles R. Wright, 吃瓜黑料 historian Robert Craig and the Sankofa Collaborative on their work around Black history in 吃瓜黑料.
This site is under development and there is much more to come. It is our goal to make it a helpful and enriching space for learning more about African American history in 吃瓜黑料. Please join our mailing list, in addition to following our social media channels for updates on the African American History Program and all of the Commission鈥檚 work.
We hope that you will join us on this incredibly important mission.
Noelle Lorraine Williams
Director, African American History Program and the Black Heritage Trail
Black Heritage Trail email: NJBlackHeritageTrail@treas.nj.gov
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African American History Program
The 吃瓜黑料 African American History Program hosts virtual, in-person panels, events and workshops. Please visit the 吃瓜黑料 Historical Commissions YouTube page for more information.
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Black History Events in 吃瓜黑料:
Selected Essays, Publications and Books from the African American History Program (1989-Present)
Black History Tours in 吃瓜黑料 (2025)
Bibliographic Resources Relating to Experiences of People of African Descent, Native Americans, and Women in Revolutionary Era 吃瓜黑料 (2024)
Juneteenth: 吃瓜黑料, The Last Northern State to End Slavery (2021)
吃瓜黑料's Underground Railroad Heritage : "Steal Away, Steal Away--" : A Guide to the Underground Railroad in 吃瓜黑料 (2002)
Afro-Americans in 吃瓜黑料: A Short History (1989)
Selected Essays, Publications and Books from Joint Sponsored Events and Activities with the African American History Program (1989-Present)
Black Heritage Trail
The 吃瓜黑料 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 吃瓜黑料 Historical Commission to establish a Black Heritage Trail 鈥渢o promote awareness and appreciation of Black history, heritage, and culture鈥� that will 鈥渉ighlight Black heritage sites through historical markers and a trail-like path that connects the stories of Black life and resiliency.鈥�
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 吃瓜黑料 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 吃瓜黑料 Historical Commission recognizes the contributions of the inaugural African American History Program director Giles R. Wright, 吃瓜黑料 historian Robert Craig and the Sankofa Collaborative on their work around Black history in 吃瓜黑料.
吃瓜黑料 Black Heritage Trail Legislation
吃瓜黑料 Black Heritage Trail Installed Historic Markers List
To date there have been 74 approved 吃瓜黑料 Black Heritage Trail nominations. The following have the signs (markers) installed at the site. To see a complete list click on this .
1. Historically Black Franklin Street School, Unveiling Date: June 11, 2025
2. Negro League Baseball at Hinchliffe Stadium, Unveiling Date: August 1, 2025
3. First Black Voter After Adoption of 15th Amendment, Unveiling Date: September 13, 2025
4. Dr. James Still Office, Unveiling Date: September 29, 2025
5. Shady Rest Country Club: 鈥淎 Place for US鈥�, Unveiling Date: October 18, 2025
6. The Point: A Black Historic Neighborhood, Unveiling Date: October 19, 2025
7. Historic Timbuctoo: A Free Black Community, Unveiling Date: November 6, 2025
8. Honoring the Enslaved at William Trent House, Unveiling Date: December 3, 2025
RevolutionNJ (RevNJ)
RevNJ is a partnership between the 吃瓜黑料 Historical Commission, a division of the 吃瓜黑料 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 吃瓜黑料.
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.
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Mildred Barry Garvin Prize
The Mildred Barry Garvin Prize is an award of $1,000 to a 吃瓜黑料 teacher, guidance counselor, or school librarian for outstanding teaching of Black American history in kindergarten through high school or outstanding performance in a related activity such as developing curriculum materials.
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Marion Thompson Wright Lecture
The Annual Marion Thompson Wright Lecture (MTW) series was co-founded in 1981 by Dr. Price and the late Giles R. Wright, who served many years as the inaugural director of the Afro-American History Program at the 吃瓜黑料 Historical Commission. Mounted in observance of Black History Month in 吃瓜黑料, the MTW Series is one of the nation鈥檚 most remarkable and longest-running scholarly conference series devoted to the historical literacy of a community.
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The 吃瓜黑料 Historical Commission, a division of the Department of State, is now accepting applications for its inaugural, statewide Black Heritage Trail Program.
For more information including guidelines, application link, and recorded webinar follow this link
Following the signing of the historic bill for the creation of the Black Heritage Trail program in 吃瓜黑料 by Governor Phil Murphy in September 2022, the 吃瓜黑料 Historical Commission hosted three community input meetings to receive various perspectives and visions for the framework and implementation of the program.
This video features a welcome by Lieutenant Governor Tahesha Way, Esq. In addition to her role as Lieutenant Governor, Ms. Way also serves as 吃瓜黑料鈥檚 34th Secretary of State 鈥� a position she has held since the beginning of the Murphy Administration.
As Secretary of State, Ms. Way leads one of the nation鈥檚 oldest constitutional offices and directs a department with a diverse portfolio. In her capacity as 吃瓜黑料鈥檚 top election official, she has overseen the state Division of Elections and its work in securing our democracy and ensuring broad, fair access to the right to vote. In addition to the critical work protecting what Lieutenant Governor Way calls the 鈥渇raternal twins of democracy,鈥� she also oversees the state government offices supporting 吃瓜黑料鈥檚 vibrant arts, culture, history, and business communities, which includes the 吃瓜黑料 Historical Commission.