The Sankofa Collaborative Weekly Resource

Who gets to lead - and who gets to tell the story?

History is a fascinating story of triumphs, losses and, perhaps above all, perseverance.

This week, be sure to visit States of Independence, an interactive digital exhibition timed to the 250th anniversary of the United States. The Sankofa Collaborative's Dr. Linda J. Caldwell Epps was instrumental in developing the New Jersey section. She appears in the video on New Jersey Loyalists. You can also view Elaine Buck and Beverly Mills discussing New Jersey's history of slavery.

WHO GETS TO LEAD?

States of Independence | New American History, August 2026

Museum leaders gather in Philadelphia, send clear message to those who want to erase Black history | The Philadelphia Tribune, August 2026

These Photos Visualize the Legacy of Peter Spencer, Founder of America’s First Independent Black Church | Smithsonian Magazine, August 2026

'If you erase it, we will replace it,' Rep. Mfume says of Black history at Smithsonian museums | PBS News, July 2026

Upcoming Events

2026 Native Knowledge 360° Teach-In - Teaching for Change

Hosted at the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C. 10th Annual Native Knowledge 360° Teach-In Cultural Sovereignty on Saturday, September 26, 2026 9:00AM - 2:30PM ET. This event will be hosted IN PERSON in Washington, D.C.

2026 New Jersey History Conference

New Jersey Historical Commission presents 2026 New Jersey History Conference - Friday, October 30, 2026 at Kean University STEM Building, Union, NJ.

Does your organization have an upcoming event that aligns with the Sankofa Collaborative’s mission? Send the registration page link and the image you would like used to sstephens1622@gmail.com at least 10 days prior to the event and we will include it in our Weekly Resource.

Additional opportunities to engage with history can be found on the New Jersey Historical Commission's New Jersey Black History Events List.

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.

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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 four New Jersey organizations - 1804 Consultants, 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, the New Jersey Historical Commission, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and Patient First.

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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