New Jersey hopes to ‘elevate the stories of Black New Jerseyans’ with the Black Heritage Trail
Gov. Phil Murphy signed a new bill into law, which gives the New Jersey Historical Commission $1 million to develop the Black Heritage Trail, a path highlighting Black historical markers and sites in the state.
New Jersey is honoring its Black history and culture with a new trail that will mark important sites throughout the Garden State.
Gov. Phil Murphy signed Bill A2677 into law Wednesday, which gives the New Jersey Historical Commission $1 million to develop the Black Heritage Trail, a path highlighting Black historical markers and sites in the state. The commission will begin designating sites on the trail under the guidance of Secretary of State Tahesha Way and the New Jersey Black Cultural and Heritage Initiative Foundation, according to the commission’s executive director, Sara Cureton.
“The history of Black Americans in New Jersey has long been neglected, misunderstood, or even suppressed,” Cureton said in a statement to NBC News. “The establishment of the New Jersey Black Heritage Trail is one powerful way to elevate the stories of Black New Jerseyans so that we all can learn from them.”
The goal of the trail, as noted in the bill’s announcement, is for visitors and travelers to “discover the remarkable achievements and legacies of New Jersey’s African American scholars, famous figures and everyday citizens who shaped the State’s history for nearly four centuries.”
Those walking the path will have access to a downloadable itinerary and maps that pinpoint Black heritage sites, museums and modern-day attractions. A launch date for the Black Heritage Trail has not been announced, but the historical commission has already shared that it plans to add new locations as the trail grows, according to a New Jersey secretary of state spokesperson.
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