The Sankofa Collaborative Weekly Resource

The most compelling accounts of the past can be found in the words of those who lived it.

IN THEIR OWN WORDS

This 19th-Century Diary Written by an Enslaved Maryland Man Is a Crucial Record of His Life and Family History—and the Only One of Its Kind Found in the United States | Smithsonian Magazine, July 2026

Born in Slavery: Slave Narratives from the Federal Writers' Project, 1936 to 1938 | Library of Congress, viewed July 2026

Slave Letters | Duke University Libraries, viewed July 2026

Upcoming Events

Informational Session: Teaching for Black Lives Study Groups - Teaching for Black Lives

On Tuesday, August 11, Jesse Hagopian, Teaching for Black Lives co-editor and Rethinking Schools editor, will facilitate a 50-minute informational session for educators interested in forming a Teaching for Black Lives study group in their school, district, or statewide.

NJ Historical Commission Online Webinar

Let's discuss some opportunities for Professional Development offered by New Jersey historical sites in developing African American history.

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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