In 2002, the Amistad Mandate became law in New Jersey. The mandate calls for the history of African Americans to be taught from kindergarten through twelfth grade.
In New Jersey, Black history is all around us and we have access to vast resources to help us complete the picture of American history. Here is just a sampling of some of the resources and materials you can use to help you and your students greater understand our rich history.
Visit NJ
NJ’s tourism website, visitnj.og, has organized resources across several regions: Southern, Delaware River, Central, and Northern NJ. Learn more about the first Black-owned golf course in Scotch Plains or plan a trip to Black-owned breweries in the northern part of the state.
Peter Mott House Underground Railroad Museum
The first nationally recognized site in Lawnside, the NJEA Review ran a story on the Peter Mott House in Oct. 2023. That article shares resources from other parts of the state, as well.
Harriet Tubman Museum in Cape May
Did you know that Harriet Tubman lived in Cape May, NJ in the 1850s? Learn more and plan a visit, but please note that the museum is closed in January.
Notable Names and Firsts
Rowan University has compiled interesting information about New Jersey athletes, performers, inventors, artists, writers, and others who have made a mark on history.
Places to See
There’s nothing like actually visiting historic sites to get a sense of the people who walked before us. Rowan University has a list of sites to see to better understand our history.
As David McCullough, the American historian, wrote: “History is who we are and why we are the way we are.” As educators, we constantly strive to better understand and share the full scope of our history to help our students and ourselves shape a better future.