COMMUNITY PLANNER: 100th Anniversary of Black History Month

RARITAN TWP., N.J. (Hunterdon County) — The year 2026 marks a century-long federal recognition of Black History Month, and local institutions help mark an important milestone in its origins.

Originally known as “Negro History Week” and founded by Dr. Carter G. Woodson in Feb. 1926, it began as one week of learning and recognition. He is often referred to as the “Father of Black History,” and chose February for this celebration of Black Americans to honor the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass, two pivotal figures in African American history who were both born in February.

President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863 which abolished slavery, and Frederick Douglas escaped slavery and became an abolitionist and a foundational leader in the fight for civil rights for African Americans.

In 1976, President Gerald Ford issued a proclamation to change Black History Week to Black History Month. He asked that all Americans …

“ … seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.” 

Each February since, the Association for the Study of African American Life and History, an organization Dr. Woodson founded in 1915, features different themes to focus public attention on specific, or underexplored aspects of Black history, culture, and contributions.

This year’s theme is “A Century of Black History Commemorations,” which honors the century-long evolution, signifying how the study and teaching of Black history became a national tradition.

Below are FREE events that commemorate African American history:

• The Hunterdon County Library, located at 314 State Route 12, Building #3 in Flemington, will host an untold history event about African Americans in the Sourland Mountains, Feb. 21 from 2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
  • Attendees will learn how formerly enslaved people built lasting communities in New Jersey, once known as the “Slave State of the North,” and shaped a legacy of resilience and freedom. To register, visit: hclibrary.libcal.com/event/15455330.
  • The Library also has an extensive itinerary of reading materials and movie matinees scheduled which can be found on their Black History Month Programs’ page.
• The NAACP of Hunterdon County’s “Rooted & Rising: A Century of Black History” event at Flemington Presbyterian Church on 10 East Main Street in Flemington will feature live cultural performances, ethnic food and dance, a fashion show and children’s craft activities, Feb. 21 from 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. The event serves as a celebration, and a platform to continue open dialogue about Black History. A copy of the flyer is available on the Township website.
• Raritan Valley Community College’s Planetarium facility is hosting an event on Feb. 28 from 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. with hands-on activities inspired by codes found in the song “Follow the Drinking Gourd” and in quilt squares to learn more about astronomy and the Underground Railroad, a secretive network of people and places that helped thousands of enslaved people move northward as far as Canada to escape slavery. Recommended for ages 6-12. For more information, visit raritanval.edu/planetarium/public-shows or call (908) 231-8805.

This month also serves as a reminder that history is all around us here in Hunterdon County. Below are some of the local pioneers Black History Month honors:

• Jacob Francis, born in Amwell Township and as an indentured servant for a local farmer at birth in 1754, he would go on to be a Revolutionary War Veteran. His youngest son, Abner, inspired by his father, spent his adult life fighting for equal rights for all people.
• Samuel Sutphin was a young slave living in Branchburg and fought in the Revolutionary War in his master's place, a Readington tavern owner, with the promise of freedom. He would not receive freedom for another three decades after being sold off to another master.
• William Stives, born in Amwell Township, was an indentured servant for a local farmer at birth in 1757. He was a Revolutionary War Veteran and served under President and Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army George Washington and participated in the Battle of Monmouth and the Yorktown campaign. He was one of the original African American settlers on the Sourland Mountain. 
• Aray Van Guinea, a free African American considered “the most prominent man of color” in New Jersey during the early 1700’s, owned considerable property around Potterstown in Tewksbury Township. He is recognized for his role in donating land to build a German Lutheran Church in Hunterdon County. His sons went on to fight in the Revolutionary War.

This month and beyond, we remember the journeys undertaken by so many and honor the legacy of change makers like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Maya Angelou, Rosa Parks, and Harriet Tubman for our collective future.

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