On Tuesday, Feb. 18, NJ Gov. Phil Murphy and Lt. Gov. Tahesha Way moderated a panel discussion in honor of Black History Month and NJ’s commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States. The panel consisted of Rutgers University President and Distinguished Professor Jonathan Holloway and Princeton University Associate Professor of History Michael Blaakman.
Both men have a great knowledge in the field, with Holloway being a leading scholar of African American history and Blaakman, a historian of the American Revolution. The discussion was titled “Freedom, Slavery, and the American Revolution: A Conversation with Professors Jonathan Holloway and Michael Blaakman”. The discussion focused on the stories and questions from this impactful time in the country’s history. More specifically, it looked at the impacts to the lives of African Americans in this new nation.
“As we commemorate our nation’s 250th anniversary, it’s important that we honor the often overlooked stories of African Americans, who played an integral role in the founding of our nation,” said Governor Murphy. “President Holloway and Dr. Blaakman’s expertise and scholarship provide an insightful and unique perspective on this complex period of our nation’s history. Lieutenant Governor Way and I are proud to spotlight the stories of Black Americans as part of our 250th anniversary programming.”
Since its founding, New Jersey has had deep ties to slavery, incentivized by land grants that gave settlers land if they were able to bring enslaved people to the colony. Black history in the state can be dated back to around the same time period as the American Revolution. By 1790, roughly seven percent of the state’s population was made up of African Americans.
“The painful reality is that in making their own case for liberty, the colonists used the language of the day to complain that the British crown was treating them as slaves—somehow ignoring the people they literally owned, blind to their existence and to the irony of their own complaints,” said Rutgers University President Jonathan Holloway.
Montclair Brewery, where the panel discussion was held, is a Black-owned microbrewery and tasting room that was born from the imagination of co-owner Leo Sawadogo. Sawadogo turned his passion for home brewing and hosting and turned it into a successful business. Sawadogo owns the company with his wife, Denise, as they are looking to expand to a second location.
“It is an honor to host this event on behalf of the Governor and Lt. Governor,” said Leo Sawadogo, co-owner of Montclair Brewery. “I look forward to having them tasting our craft beers and thanking the Governor personally for making it a little easier for breweries to do business in the state.”
The event goes to show NJ’s dedication to acknowledging and shedding a spotlight on Black history, using those highly-trained in the topic to educate others. With its goal being to display Black stories and talk about the country’s history, it proved to be a success.