Events

In 1852 Harriet Beecher Stowe published “Uncle Tom’s Cabin, or Life Among the Lowly” which helped move the conscience of the country to imperative cause of Abolitionism. Her story energized anti-slavery forces in the North, while provoking widespread anger in the pro-slavery South. Allegedly, when she met Abraham Lincoln, he said, “So you are the little woman that wrote the book that started this great war?”

Creation of an in-gallery programming space, activated on a regular basis by a diverse group of partners, including area scholars, social service organizations, and other artists and cultural groups. This space will serve as a platform for facilitated discussion, making, reflecting and sharing.

Creation of an in-gallery programming space, activated on a regular basis by a diverse group of partners, including area scholars, social service organizations, and other artists and cultural groups. This space will serve as a platform for facilitated discussion, making, reflecting and sharing.

Martin Luther King Jr. was one of the world’s greatest orators, as well as a pastor, activist, and humanitarian. He won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964 for his work combating racial inequality through the use of nonviolent civil disobedience. His most famous speech, (“I Have a Dream”) was first delivered at the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in 1963.

KICKOFF EVENT FEATURING DR. WARTYNA DAVIS

Take Pride, Bloomfield! kicks off with a presentation by Dr. Wartyna Davis, Bloomfield Councilwoman and the Associate Dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences at William Paterson University.

This event will take place in the Little Theater.

Martin Luther King Jr. was one of the world’s greatest orators, as well as a pastor, activist, and humanitarian. He won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964 for his work combating racial inequality through the use of nonviolent civil disobedience. His most famous speech, (“I Have a Dream”) was first delivered at the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in 1963.

“Trigger: Gender as a Tool and a Weapon” investigates gender’s place in contemporary art and culture at a moment of political upheaval and renewed culture wars. The exhibition features an intergenerational group of artists who explore gender beyond the binary to usher in more fluid and inclusive expressions of identity.

​Registration is required as space is limited; you can sign up here beginning January 2. The grant covers your admission but you must provide your own transportation. We hope to see you at this exciting exhibit!

Discover the rich history of Oświęcim, Poland – the town the Germans called Auschwitz – through photographs that trace the life of the town and its Jewish residents, from the 16th century through the post-war period.

Discover the personal side of Abraham Lincoln. The program covers the great man’s formative years, his courtship and marriage, the beginnings and development of his abolitionist view point, and his first – though not very successful – trip to Congress. Discussion points also include the causes of the Civil War, major events and turning points within the war, the Emancipation Proclamation, and the Gettysburg Address.

Bob Gleason
First Person Interpreter

Bruce Springsteen expects attentiveness of his listeners. How do we know this? Over the past 50 years, Springsteen has written songs and created music that have been experienced by countless fans. But many don’t know the extent to which his work has been influenced by the American folk tradition. Through experimental reinterpretation and the creation of new traditions, The Boss has worked within known folk traditions, but at the same time, created new sounds and messages. In this session, participants can learn about some of the works that have influenced one of Jersey’s most celebrated musical artists.

Prudence Jones, Ph.D.
Professor at Montclair University

Martin Luther King Jr. was one of the world’s greatest orators, as well as a pastor, activist, and humanitarian. He won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964 for his work combating racial inequality through the use of nonviolent civil disobedience. His most famous speech, (“I Have a Dream”) was first delivered at the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in 1963.

Keith Henley
First Person Interpreter

You can tell a lot about people from their stuff. You can tell a lot about a society too. The things we own, make, and desire give physical expression to our beliefs and values – even in ways we might not be conscious of. Focusing on the home, this program will take us on a tour through American history to demonstrate how cultural values are present in household furnishings. Then, we will apply this practice to ourselves to discover what our possessions reveal about us.

Briann G. Greenfield, Ph.D.
Executive Director of New Jersey Council for Humanities

Opening event for "A Town Known as Auschwitz, the Life and Death of a Jewish Community," the new exhibition at Middlesex County College on loan from the Museum of Jewish Heritage. Discover the rich history of Oświęcim, Poland – the town the Germans called Auschwitz – through photographs that trace the life of the town and its Jewish residents, from the 16th century through the post-war period.

Mr. Jefferson brings the life of Paul Robeson alive through first-person historical characterization. Robeson, one of the most well known African-Americans of the 20th century, was a renaissance man, a social activist, scholar, intellectual, lawyer, All-American athlete, singer, linguist, humanist, and advocate for international peace.

Marvin Jefferson
First Person Interpreter

Bethel AME Church, with collaborating partners Drew University, the Morris School District and the Morristown & Morris Township Library, request funds for a series of public programs around historic and contemporary race relations in Morris County and the state of NJ. We anticipate each program will draw a different audience segment. The programs consist of a scholar panel; a Juneteeth celebration geared towards families; and a Facilitated Dialogue Training session aimed at community and youth leaders.

The influence of writer and social critic James Baldwin reached far and wide. In this unique exploration of Baldwin’s groundbreaking literary and social justice work, actor/comic Grant Cooper and scholar Dr. Lindsey Swindall engage participants in an interactive dialogue that unravels the truths of racism in this country and examines other themes in Baldwin’s writings. Mr. Cooper’s dramatic interpretations of Baldwin’s writing are complemented by historical context from Dr. Swindall, leading to thought provoking questions that spark audience participation.

Lindsey Swindall, Ph.D. & Grant Cooper
Educator at Stevens Institute of Technology & Comedian

Bethel AME Church, with collaborating partners Drew University, the Morris School District and the Morristown & Morris Township Library, request funds for a series of public programs around historic and contemporary race relations in Morris County and the state of NJ. We anticipate each program will draw a different audience segment. The programs consist of a scholar panel; a Juneteeth celebration geared towards families; and a Facilitated Dialogue Training session aimed at community and youth leaders.

This popular winter program will feature unique and This popular winter program will feature unique and specially curated selections inspired by themes explored in Joyce J. Scott: Harriet Tubman and Other Truths. Held indoors, this 3-installment series of documentary films offers a thought-provoking look at the issues of race and bias in the United States, and the use of art as a tool for social awareness and change. Film screenings meet within the exhibition for a period of quiet reflection on the work and its themes. Following the screening, share your thoughts during an informal discussion led by experienced guest moderators.

On stage, Nina Simone was known for her utterly free, uninhibited musical expression which enthralled audiences and attracted life-long fans. But amid the violent and haunting civil rights era in 1960s America, Simone struggled to reconcile her artistic identity and ambition with her devotion to a movement. Culled from hours of autobiographical tapes, this film chronicles Simone’s determination to use her musical talents, heart, soul, and voice to speak out against racial inequality and discrimination.

SNOW DATE: February 18

Free with park admission. Reservations required.

Discover the personal side of Abraham Lincoln. The program covers the great man’s formative years, his courtship and marriage, the beginnings and development of his abolitionist view point, and his first – though not very successful – trip to Congress. Discussion points also include the causes of the Civil War, major events and turning points within the war, the Emancipation Proclamation, and the Gettysburg Address.

Bob Gleason
First Person Interpreter

The events in Charlottesville during the summer of 2017 have prompted even more consideration about memorials and what they represent. When it comes to memorials, heritage and events are political and often reflected in the monuments that are erected. As ideologies change, groups become more or less powerful in privileging the commemorated, or as new information comes to light, new monuments are created and/or old ones are removed. In this session, the politics of and public response to memorials will be examined through numerous lens.

Barbara Seater, Ph.D.
Professor at Raritan Valley Community College

Discover the personal side of Abraham Lincoln. The program covers the great man’s formative years, his courtship and marriage, the beginnings and development of his abolitionist view point, and his first – though not very successful – trip to Congress. Discussion points also include the causes of the Civil War, major events and turning points within the war, the Emancipation Proclamation, and the Gettysburg Address.

Bob Gleason
First Person Interpreter

The date is December 29, 1940. Franklin Delano Roosevelt has just been re-elected to an unprecedented third term in office. But the world is in a crisis. Nazi Germany has blazed the path of destruction across Europe, and America may soon be drawn into war. Meet with the President just prior to his delivery of the famous “Arsenal for Democracy” speech.

Neill Hartley
First Person Interpreter

Potential applications are required to submit an Intent to Apply though our online application system by March 16, 2018.

To learn more visit: https://njhumanities.org/grants/action-grants/

For more than a century before gay marriage became a hot-button political issue, same-sex unions flourished in America. Pairs of men and pairs of women joined together in committed unions, standing by each other “for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health” for periods of thirty or forty sometimes as many as fifty years. In short, they loved and supported each other every bit as much as any husband and wife. In OUTLAW MARRIAGES, cultural historian Rodger Streitmatter reveals how some of these unions didn’t merely improve the quality of life for the two people involved but also enriched the American culture. Among the high-profile couples whose lives and loves are illuminated in the following pages are Nobel Peace Prize winner Jane Addams and Mary Rozet Smith, literary icon Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Toklas, author James Baldwin and Lucien Happersberger, and artists Jasper Johns and Robert Rauschenberg.

​This event will take place in the Board Room in the Adult Library. Copies of the book can be picked up beginning January 16th.

The influence of writer and social critic James Baldwin reached far and wide. In this unique exploration of Baldwin’s groundbreaking literary and social justice work, actor/comic Grant Cooper and scholar Dr. Lindsey Swindall engage participants in an interactive dialogue that unravels the truths of racism in this country and examines other themes in Baldwin’s writings. Mr. Cooper’s dramatic interpretations of Baldwin’s writing are complemented by historical context from Dr. Swindall, leading to thought provoking questions that spark audience participation.

Lindsey Swindall, Ph.D. & Grant Cooper
Educator at Stevens Institute of Technology & Comedian

Martin Luther King Jr. was one of the world’s greatest orators, as well as a pastor, activist, and humanitarian. He won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964 for his work combating racial inequality through the use of nonviolent civil disobedience. His most famous speech, (“I Have a Dream”) was first delivered at the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in 1963.

Keith Henley
First Person Interpreter

Martin Luther King Jr. was one of the world’s greatest orators, as well as a pastor, activist, and humanitarian. He won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964 for his work combating racial inequality through the use of nonviolent civil disobedience. His most famous speech, (“I Have a Dream”) was first delivered at the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in 1963.

Keith Henley
First Person Interpreter

Through curriculum development and a leadership institute involving local self-advocates, performance artists, film screenings, and cross-disciplinary scholarship presentations, this project will facilitate the modeling of inclusive practices that situate disability as an integral part of our increasingly diverse society.

What pairs well with civil rights activism in the African American community? In this PSP session, it’s comedy. Drawing upon the comedic talent of Grant Cooper, who has been a stand-up comic in NYC for over twenty years, and the historical insight of African American Studies scholar Dr. Lindsey Swindall, Black Comedy brings unique insight about politics and the arts to audiences, including an examination of the historical AND contemporary significance of the intersection between civil rights activism and comedy. Participants will explore how comedy can be effective in breaking down barriers and sparking fruitful discussion.

Lindsey Swindall, Ph.D. & Grant Cooper
Educator at Stevens Institute of Technology & Comedian

Have you considered the black part of the nation’s favorite pastime? What black baseball in America meant, including pioneers like Jackie Robinson and the rich relationships in “Blackball” during America’s era of segregation, across the nation and in New Jersey is a multifaceted narrative. During this session, a robust conversation, an account by a veteran Negro Leaguer, a rendition of an "iconic" baseball poem "K.C at the Bat" by its author, Kevin Kane, and selections from the documentary “Before You Can Say Jackie Robinson” will further participants’ understanding.

Lawrence Hogan, Ph.D.
Professor Emeritus of History at Union County College