There is no one way to piece together our history. We uncover it bit by bit, from here and from there, following time-worn paths while keeping an eye out for new possibilities. This week's articles remind us that fragments of the past can be as large and hidden as a town under water, or as small as a scrap of woolen cloth. Once uncovered, their journey through history begins again.

Note: Occasionally we choose to share an article that may be restricted by a publisher's paywall. If you find you are unable to access a piece because of this, we invite you to contact your local library to view the article through their periodicals collection. It will also be a nice opportunity to say hello to the librarians in your neighborhood!

SLAVERY - IT HAPPENED HERE, TOO

On June 6, 2023 The Sankofa Collaborative will present "Slavery - It Happened Here, Too." This full-day program will be held at Grounds For Sculpture in Hamilton, NJ. African American History scholar Dr. Kendra Boyd will be our keynote speaker. Dr. Linda Caldwell Epps, President and CEO of 1804 Consultants will moderate.

Topics include:

Enslavement as a wealth generator in New Jersey
Enslavement as the foundation of New Jersey's educational and cultural institutions
Resilience and resistance among New Jersey's enslaved people

FRAGMENTS OF THE PAST

5 Black American Towns Hidden Under Lakes And Ultimately From History Books | Travel Noire

Only surviving fragment of ‘slave’ cloth found in Derbyshire record office | The Guardian

Is the Metropolitan Museum of Art Displaying Objects that Belong to Native American Tribes? | ProPublica

MORE UPCOMING EVENTS

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

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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.

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