FEBRUARY IS BLACK HISTORY MONTH
Dear Friends,
Every February, Mercer County joins the nation in celebrating Black History Month. This year, however, the celebration feels somber in the wake of yet another case of deadly over-policing, this time in the City of Memphis where Tyre Nichols, a 29-year-old father, became the latest Black man in a horrific line of abuse. Mr. Nichols’ death is a glaring reminder that efforts to reform policing have a long way to go. As we together peacefully protest this latest incident, let it spark broader conversations about the need for police reform, without losing sight of the important work done by police professionals in our communities. --
County Executive Brian M. Hughes
American history resonates with the names of great African-American men and women, and Black History Month is our nation's way of showing respect and recognition for the hard work of and sacrifices made by African Americans. Mercer County throughout the month will celebrate because Black History is American History! Watch this space for upcoming events! |
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Recognizing Stanley C. Van Ness, First Black Chief Counsel to the Governor of New Jersey
Stanley C. Van Ness (1933-2007) became the first Black chief counsel to the Governor of New Jersey when he was named to the post by Gov. Richard J. Hughes in 1967, at age 34. He was sworn in just at the start of the Newark riots.
Van Ness became an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey in 1963 and an assistant counsel to the Governor in 1965.
In 1969, Hughes named Van Ness to head the New Jersey Office of the Public Defender.
Gov. Brendan Byrne created the New Jersey Department of the Public Advocate in 1974 and named Van Ness to lead it as a member of his cabinet. He served in the cabinet for the entire eight years of the Byrne administration.
As Public Advocate, Van Ness, representing the interests of ratepayers before the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, sued the New Jersey Department of Human Services over miserable conditions in state mental health facilities, and the Boy Scouts of America after they denied four Toms River Scouts with muscular dystrophy the ability to become Eagle Scouts because they could not earn swimming-related merit badges.
Source: NJ Globe
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CALENDAR OF EVENTS
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2 p.m.
Movie Matinee
"Judas and the Black Messiah"
Lawrence Branch Mercer County Library System mcl.org
Black History Month Opening Ceremony, Mercer County Community College, Wednesday, Feb. 1 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Kerney Hall at the James Kerney Campus in Trenton.
THURSDAY, FEB. 2 from 3 to 5 p.m. "Film and Chat." Guests are invited to watch the film “Get Out,” the story of a family meeting gone wrong, and take part in a “Film and Chat” session in CM 108 on MCCC's West Windsor Campus.
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SATURDAY, FEB. 4,
Melatin Market from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the James Kerney campus. BIPOC entrepreneurs from across the county will vend their products and services that empower and support BIPOC culture.
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SATURDAY, FEB. 4,
"A Soldier's Story," 2:30 p.m., Ewing Branch. mcl.org
WEDNESDAY, FEB. 8
Black History Month Trivia
Participants can flaunt their Black History prowess at the “Black History Month Trivia” event on the MCCC West Windsor campus in the Student Center cafeteria from 11 a.m. until noon.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 7:30 p.m.
VIRTUAL: Freedom to all: New Jersey's African American Civil War Soldiers
The Mercer County Library, Lawrence Headquarters Branch
2751 Brunswick Pike, Lawrenceville
(609) 883-8294 | mcl.org
FEBRUARY 18, 2 p.m.
Movie Matinee
"A Raisin in the Sun."
The Mercer County Library, Ewing Branch
61 Scotch Road, Ewing
(609) 882-3130 | mcl.org
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 6 p.m.
New Jersey's Tuskegee of the North: A Program on the Bordentown School
The Mercer County Library, Lawrence Headquarters Branch
2751 Brunswick Pike, Lawrenceville
(609) 883-8294 | mcl.org
Slavery At Morven
Morven Museum
55 Stockton St., Princeton
(609) 924-8144 | morven.org
Please visit Morven's online exhibition highlighting the history of slavery at Morven.
The topic of human beings being treated as property is a difficult one and we aim to address it with the appropriate gravitas. Morven Museum & Garden's mission is to preserve our legacy by sharing its authentic stories. By not shying away from our story of enslaved people, we believe our visitors will have a better understanding of how our world evolved to where we are today. Much of this information has been available on our gallery walls, and in this format we can deepen the viewer's understanding by linking to source material. Research into the men, women, and children enslaved by the Stockton’s at Morven is ongoing and this site will be updated as new information is discovered.
To view this online exhibition, please see the link below:
https://www.morven.org/slavery-at-morven
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