The Sankofa Collaborative Weekly Resource

The holidays we celebrate may seem fixed, with traditions that we observe from year to year. But the truth is more complex and fluid, as this week's article shows. It makes us wonder, what other holiday symbols have been contested over time?

'TIS THE SEASON

Searching for Black Santa: The Contested History of an American Holiday Tradition | Comparative American Studies, December 2023

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

This Annual Conference will focus on museum education related to enslavement in the North. The program will bring together experts in the field to share their insights and experiences on how museums can effectively educate the public about the history of enslavement. Click here to learn more and to register.

Support the Sankofa Collaborative!

We hope that our workshops and e-newsletter have strengthened and inspired you to learn more about, present, and discuss the complex and difficult issues in the history and current experiences of African American citizens of New Jersey and of the United States.

Please consider making a donation to help the Collaborative continue its work. You can make a gift using the link below or you can mail your contribution to the Sankofa Collaborative, P.O. Box 77234, Trenton, NJ 08628. Thank you for your support!

Click here to support the Sankofa Collaborative today!

For more articles, guides and other materials, visit the Sankofa Collaborative's Program Archives and Resources page.

Join Our Mailing List!

The Sankofa Collaborative helps people learn about, understand, and discuss African American history in schools, museums, libraries, civic groups, and other settings.

The Collaborative is the work of 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. Our programs and website are made possible through generous grants from the New Jersey Council for the Humanities and the New Jersey Historical Commission.

Sankofa, a word from the Twi language of Ghana, translates to "go back and get it." It is often depicted by a bird with its body facing forward and its head turned back, holding a precious egg. This and other Sankofa symbols remind us of the importance of learning from the past.

Share This Email