b"asAfricanAmericanormultiracial.wealth through racial-AlthoughDurand-Heddenhaspre- ized exploitation.sented many Black History programsBarbaraVelazquez, in the past, such as a Harriet Tubmanatrusteeofboththe reenactorandapresentationbytheCoalition and SOMA late Giles Wright on New Jersey andAction,waspartof theUndergroundRailroad,themu- theresearchteam.I seumwantedtoreachforadeeper,founddoingresearch richerconnectedness.Withthehelponenslavedandfree of the Coalition, this goal was realized.AfricanAmericans It was planned for presentation againintheMaplewood-this June but will be rescheduled dueSouth Orange area to to public-health concerns. Above: A large crowd gathers for Juneteenth 2019. Top right:beenlightening,she Storytellers entertain the crowd. Bottom right: Columbia Highsaid.Insomecases, Delving into New Jerseys School's Special Dance Company performed at last year's Troubled History event. Photos by Joy Yagid it was as though I had awindowintotheir AlthoughmostpeopleassociateNew Jersey, more than 200 of them inTheirstoriesaretestamentstoim- livesasIfollowed slaveryinAmericawiththeSouth,Essex County. An 1846 law changedmense courage and resilience. them from census year to census year. people of color were enslaved in Newthe title, but not the status, of enslavedThelast16elderlyapprenticesIhadnaivelybelievedthatAfrican Jersey from the late 1600s, by the firstpeople born before July 1804, makinginNewJerseywerenotfreeduntilAmericans here enjoyed a much better Dutch and English settlers, until thethemindenturedservantswhowereJan.31,1865,whentheThirteenthlife than their enslaved brethren in the end of the Civil War.apprentices for life.AmendmentlegallyendedslaverySouth, but I learned that, sadly, this The states gradual abolition act ofInthedecadesleadinguptothethroughouttheUnitedStates.Newwas far from the truth. The life of Af-1804 freed children born of enslavedCivil War, many enslaved people tookJerseywasthelastnorthernstatetorican Americans in New Jersey was as women after July 4 of that yearbutfreedom into their own hands. Theyratify that amendment, and that wasfraught with danger; the difference was only after a period of indentured servi- escaped to New Jersey from bondagenot until 1866, after it had already be- of degree, not of kind. tude of 25 years (for males) or 21 yearsin the South, and they escaped fromcome law. It was a whimpering end toFor all involved at Durand-Hedden (forfemales).The1830censusre- bondageinNewJersey,chasedbydecades of battles between abolition- and the Coalition, this history was a corded about 2,300 enslaved people inslavecatchers, to freedom in Canada.ists and those who would build theirrevelation. Audrey Rowe, program di-SILVERSunny Days Love My PetHome Cooked MealsNew Recipes Game Night Calling Old FriendsBinge WatchTaking Stock LININGS: Family Time Being KindTime To OrganizeReading BooksNo Commute Sleeping Late No MakeupSelf CareAllison Ziefert Real Estate Group Hoping you are finding many silver linings whileLicensed Real Estate Salespersonstaying safe. We are excited to announce that we1200 Morris Turnpike, Short Hills, NJ 07078 have joined Compass and look forward to helpingm: 917.751.0448 o: 856.214.2639azhomesnj.com you find your place in the world.feature story /13"