A week-long series of events will celebrate the life and legacy of Cudjo Banquante, an enslaved man who served as a soldier in the American Revolution and later became Newark’s first documented Black businessman. The week will feature an academic symposium, historic bus tours, student outreach programs, performances, museum exhibits, and culminate in a public ceremony to unveil a historic marker at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center. By honoring Cudjo Banquante’s triumph, the project aims to inspire and educate the community about Newark’s rich history and the importance of overcoming adversity.