Ewing Insights

Honoring Black History Month in Ewing February is Black History Month, a time to recognize and reflect on the contributions, leadership, and resilience of Black Americans who have shaped our nation and continue to move it forward. In Ewing Township, I am especially proud of our strong diversity and the many cultures, perspectives, and histories that enrich our community every day. Throughout February, we will be sharing events and programs taking place in Ewing and the surrounding region that highlight Black history and culture. If you have an event you’d like us to include, I encourage you to share it by clicking the button below. I hope you’ll join us in recognizing this important month and in celebrating the diversity that makes Ewing a welcoming and vibrant place to live. — Mayor Bert H. Steinmann

FEATURED

Oh Freedom! was created by New Jersey State Parks, Forests & Historic Sites to introduce visitors to the Black soldiers of the American Revolution. These soldiers played important roles on both sides of the Revolution. Their goal is to share this information with everyone. Join us Friday, Feb. 20 for an informative program and a look at the powerful exhibit. Free. Thank you to the New Jersey Office of Historic Sites, State Parks, Forestry and Historic Sites, and the NJ Department of Environmental Protection. 

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Muleheaded, Passage Theater

Sunday February 1-15, 2026, Mill Hill Playhouse, 205 East Front Street, Trenton. www.passagetheatre.org.

World premiere. Harlem Renaissance writers Langston Hughes and Zora Neale Hurston attempt to collaborate on a Broadway play called Mule-bone, but shifting loyalties to their white patron; explosive conflicts with a close confidante; and smoldering jealousies lead to betrayals that threaten to destroy long-term friendships and budding careers. $35

Abolition and the Underground Railroad in South Jersey, Lawrence Branch

Tuesday, Feb. 3, 6 p.m.

Southern New Jersey in the Civil War era was a hotbed of fugitives from slavery, freedmen and abolitionists. Activists such as Harriet Tubman, Abigail Goodwin and Benjamin Sheppard assisted runaway slaves along the Underground Railroad in daring flights at night in the forests of the Pine Barrens. Abolitionists flashed lights from their boats in the marshlands of Delaware Bay to signal to agents on land that fugitive slaves were on board. Please join us with author Ellen D. Alford as she recounts compelling narratives of abolition and the Underground Railroad in South Jersey. Please visit events.mcl.org to register to receive the link to the program.

Black History Through Storytelling, Trenton City Museum at Ellarslie

Sunday, Feb. 1, 4 to 6 p.m., Ellarslie, Cadwalader Park, Trenton, 609-989-1191. www.ellarslie.org.

Fourth annual event hosted by Linda McRae, Trenton Museum Society trustee, and featuring poets/spoken word artists Jamil Long, storyteller; Musszett the Poetess, real power, real talk; and Nasir Square, "Everything you touch you change, everything you change you touch." Register. $15.

Jazz Concert: Rick Fiori Jazz Band, Lawrence Branch

Thursday, Feb. 5, 7 p.m., Lawrence Headquarters Branch, 2751 Brunswick Pike,  Lawrenceville. 609-883-8292

Celebrate Black History Month with the dynamic sounds of the Rick Fiori Jazz Band! Led by acclaimed drummer Rick Fiori, this powerhouse ensemble features recording artist Elliot Bernard on piano, Evan Wohlrabe on bass, and tenor saxophonist Rico Jones. Together, they pay tribute to legendary Black jazz masters—Duke Ellington, Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, Sonny Rollins, Charlie Parker, and Thelonious Monk. Experience an unforgettable evening of first?class jazz with a playlist that includes but not limited to "Owl" "Four" "Saint Thomas" "Sentimental" "My Suede Shoes" "Lulu's Back In Town". Sponsored by Friends of the Lawrence Library. Registration is requested. events.mcl.org/

Documentary Screening: Becoming Frederick Douglass, Ewing Branch

Saturday, Feb. 7, 2:30 p.m., Ewing Branch Library, 61 Scotch Road Ewing 609-882-3148.

Discover how a man born into slavery became one of the most influential voices for democracy in American history. Oscar-nominated filmmaker Stanley Nelson explores the role Douglass played in securing the right to freedom for African Americans. Runtime: 54 mins. Registration is required. 

Echoes of Movement: Remembering, Reflecting, Reclaiming

Feb. 7, 11 a.m., 42 Pennington Avenue, Trenton Greater Mt. Zion CDC
Description: Community dialogue exploring the legacy of the Civil Rights Movement and Trenton’s Free African Society through storytelling and creative expression.
Website,

The Painter's Fire: The Life & Times of Black Artist Prince Demah

Saturday, Feb. 7, 3 p.m., Library of Historic Trenton Masonic Temple, 100 Barrack Street, Trenton, NJ

​Register at https://tinyurl.com/PrinceDemah

Artist Prince Demah, North America’s first identifiable enslaved portrait painter, lived an extraordinary life in revolutionary times. This talk by author Zara Anishanslin traces his life, art, and patriotism. From his beginnings as the enslaved son of a woman from Africa in Massachusetts through the unusual training he received in London from award-winning British painter Robert Edge Pine, from his Boston painting career near Phillis Wheatley’s home to his self-emancipation and military service for the American patriot cause, Prince Demah’s life is a remarkable story of his fight for creative and personal freedom. His inspiring story reminds us how artists shaped the Revolution on both sides of the Atlantic and testifies to both the promise and the limits of liberty in the founding era.In partnership with the Trenton Historical Society.

Author Zara Anishanslin is Associate Professor of History and Art History at the University of Delaware. She is the author of the award-winning Portrait of a Woman in Silk: Hidden Histories of the British Atlantic World and has served as a historical consultant for the Philadelphia Art Museum as well as “Hamilton: The Exhibition.”

Frederick Douglass' Birthday: Transcribe-a-thon, Hopewell Library

Friday, Feb. 13, 12 noon to 3 p.m., Hopewell Branch 245 Pennington-Titusville Road Pennington. 609-737-2610

Celebrate the birthday of Frederick Douglass by helping make history accessible. Drop in with your laptop to transcribe historical documents related to Black history and culture, contributing to projects such as The Colored Conventions Project. You can also stop by to watch the DouglassDay.org livestream featuring inspirational speeches and songs. Light refreshments will be served. Registration is requested. https://events.mcl.org/

Meet Harriet Tubman Through Art & Story, Ewing Branch

Sunday, Feb. 15, 2 to 3 p.m., Ewing Branch, 61 Scotch Road Ewing; 609-882-3148

Come out and spend some time with Harriet Tubman through arts, crafts and historical literature. Visual storyteller Beverly Keese-Kelley brings all three to the Ewing branch. Enjoy crafting a Harriet Tubman image while listening to historical stories about her life and endeavors. Beverly will have on display her visuals to glean from. Children of all ages are welcome. Registration is required. https://events.mcl.org/

"Men Without Shoes" Exhibit @Morven

Thursday, Feb. 19, 5 to 7 p.m. and Feb. 21, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Morven Museum, 55 Stockton St., Princeton.

Foundation Academies (FA) Charter School in Trenton, NJ is proud to partner with Princeton Battlefield Society and Morven Museum to unveil Men W/O Shoes—a powerful event shining a long overdue spotlight on Black soldiers in America's fight for freedom in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of Black History Month. 

For Adults

Abolition and the Underground Railroad in South Jersey
Tuesday, February 3, 6:00 pm
Virtual Program

Jazz Concert: Rick Fiori Jazz Band
Thursday, February 5, 7:00 pm
Lawrence Branch

Documentary Screening: Becoming Frederick Douglass
Saturday, February 7, 2:30 pm
Ewing Branch

The Short of It: ZZ Packer
Wednesday, February 11, 2:00 pm
Hopewell Branch

Birthday Party and Transcribe-a-thon in Honor of Frederick Douglass
Friday, February 13, 12:00 pm
Hopewell Branch

Non-Fiction Book Club – Bird Brother: A Falconer’s Journey and the Healing Power of Wildlife
Tuesday, February 17, 10:30 am
Ewing Branch

True Crime Book Club: A Devil Went Down to Georgia by Deb Miller Landau
Tuesday, February 24, 3:00 pm
Lawrence Branch

Have something to share? Email your PDF or JPEG flyers and write-up to contactus@ewingnj.org

Your 2026 Ewing Township elected leaders, far right, Mayor Bert H. Steinmann, from left, Council President David Schroth, Council Vice President Sarah Steward, Councilman Kevin Baxter, Councilwoman Kathleen Wollert and Councilwoman Jennifer Keyes-Maloney.