See: The Preserving Black Haddonfield History Project’s walking tour
The tour takes you to various historic sites in Haddonfield, which had an area of town known as ‘The Point’ where many Black residents had homes.
February is Black History Month. And in South Jersey, as in many places around the country, there will be plenty of events to help celebrate and learn about the accomplishments, culture and history of Black people in the U.S. and beyond.
There are museum exhibits, trolley tours, programs at local colleges and libraries, storytelling programs or more.
If you’re interested, there are plenty of ways to interact. Here are a few.
Trailblazers Trolley Tour Weekend in Camden County
Sponsored by Ida’s Bookshop, Haddon Township Equity Initiative and Haddon Township, the Trailblazers Trolley Tour Weekend is to take visitors to some Black-owned businesses and cultural institutions in Camden County from Feb. 21-23.
The event, which is in its second year, is to “honor Black history, celebrate diversity, and contribute to a more inclusive South Jersey community.”
Ida’s Bookshop was based in Collingswood since 2021, but announced on its social media in December that it was leaving the borough. The Black-owned independent book shop nearly closed in 2024 because of a rent hike, but the shop hosted a “rent party” and supporters rallied around it to keep it open, helping it raise more than $23,000.
In December, however, Ida’s Bookshop owner Jeannine A. Cook stated on the shop’s Instagram page that “after careful deliberation, we’ve decided to end our lease at our current location as yet again there’s been another threat of rental increase – meaning as of Jan. 31 (2025) Ida’s Bookshop will close at 734 Haddon Ave.,” she wrote. “We are in promising talks with a local business owner about purchasing their building and our goal is to reopen as swiftly as possible, but we are also (okay) with letting this unfold in perfect order.”
Cook said four of the businesses (all owned by Black women) they highlighted on the tour last year have since closed.
The youth/teen/tween event for the Trailblazers Trolley Tour is Feb. 21 and is free, but participants must register. Tickets are sold for the trolley tour on other days. The tour begins at Haddon Square at 51 Haddon Ave.
The weekend is to include music, storytelling and community.
Go: eventbrite.com/e/2025-trailblazers-trolley-tour-weekend-tickets-1230661604989.
Preserving Black Haddonfield History Project ‘Conversations’
On Feb. 15 from 12-2 p.m., there is to be a “Let’s Have Tea” talk with Donna Stewart-Cruz.
Cruz is a firefighter, military mom and a descendant of Jersey Joe Walcott. This talk is to be virtual and is facilitated through the Haddonfield Public Library.The series is set to continue Feb. 16 from 2-4 p.m. with an in-person event at the Haddonfield Public Library with a talk from the Rev. Dr. Anthony C. Talton, senior pastor at Mount Olivet Baptist Church in Haddonfield. Talton is also a class of 1990 graduate of Haddonfield High School.
Registration is required for the series.
Go: haddonfield.librarycalendar.com/event/conversations-haddonfields-african-american-elders-7515.
Camden County Library System’s Black History Month events
The Camden County Library System has scheduled workshops, artistic activities, discussions, and more for both youth and adults to learn about the rich culture and history of Black people in America.
Some of the events:
- “Mlanjeni Magical Theater Story Telling Programs” — Feb. 10, 4 p.m., Haddon Township, and Feb. 22, 10:30 a.m., Voorhees.
- “African Drum Circle with Music Play Patrol” — Feb. 8, 10:30 a.m., Bellmawr, Feb. 10, 10:30 a.m., Gloucester Township, Feb. 11, 4 p.m., Ferry Avenue and Feb. 15, 11 a.m., Merchantville.
- “Black Genealogy Using Ancestry and Familysearch” — Feb. 10, 11 a.m., Ferry Avenue.
- “Driving While Black: The Green Book Locations of Lawnside and Berlin” — Feb. 11, 6:30 p.m., virtual.
- “New Jersey Underground Railroad Immersive Experience with Master Educator Muneerah Higgs” — Feb. 15, 10:30 a.m., Bellmawr branch.
- “The Strength of Courage: Author Talk with Alfred J. Dansbury Sr.” — Feb. 15, 2:30 p.m., Nilsa I. Cruz-Perez downtown branch.
- “Journey on the Underground Railroad” — Feb. 22, 11 a.m., Gloucester Township.
Burlington County events for Black History Month
The Black History Month Black Business Boulevard Expo is to be Feb. 8 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Kennedy Center in Willingboro at 429 John F. Kennedy Way. There’s to be a variety of vendors and networking opportunities.
Go: willingboronj.gov/Home/Components/Calendar/Event/2812/17.
“Past and Present Black Inventors Presentation” is scheduled for Feb. 20 at 6 p.m. at the Willingboro Public Library, 220 Willingboro Way. The event is free.
The Underground Railroad Museum of Burlington County, in partnership with Rowan College at Burlington County, is to present a Black History Month event called “A Celebration of local iconic Heroes/Sheroes.” The free event is to be held Feb. 21 at Votta Hall Auditorium, 900 College Circle, at Rowan College at Burlington County at 6 p.m.
Burlington County Library System’s Black History Month events
The Burlington County Library has planned a series of Black History Month events for all ages.
Some of the events:
- “All About Coins: Black History Coins and Minted Currency” — Feb. 16, 1 p.m. February’s topic focuses on historic coins and minted currency featuring prominent Black Americans. No registration is required.
- “Forever Ray: Honoring the Music of Ray Charles” — Feb. 22, 2 p.m. The band Forever Ray is to perform a tribute to the music of Ray Charles in the auditorium. Seating is first-come, first-served, with a maximum seating capacity of 250. No registration is required.
- “Empowered, Brilliant and Brave: Great Women of Black History” — March 9, 2 p.m. This show in the auditorium is to highlight some of the most prominent women in Black history, featuring inspiring figures such as Harriet Tubman, Dorothy Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald, Sojourner Truth, Michelle Obama and more. No registration is required.
Gloucester County events for Black History Month
Woodbury Juneteenth is presenting a Black History Month program celebrating the African Americans who served in Continental Army during the Revolutionary War on Feb. 23 at 1 p.m. at the Bethlehem Baptist Church, 414 Mantua Pike, Woodbury.
The free event features historical re-enactors Noah Lewis and Joe Becton.
According to a press release, the Bethlehem Baptist Church and the Gloucester County Historical Society are collaborating with the event, which is sponsored by the City of Woodbury, the Gloucester County Cultural & Heritage Commission and the New Jersey Historical Commission.
Cumberland County events for Black History Month
The Cumberland County Library is hosting a Black History Month Reading Challenge for kids and teens (up to age 18) from Feb. 1-28.
This challenge is in honor of Augusta Braxton Baker, a librarian and storyteller who became the first Black woman to manage all children’s services branches of the New York Public Library in 1961, according to the library. Baker died in 1998 in Columbia, South Carolina.
Participants can register for the challenge at the Library’s Youth Services desk at 800 E. Commerce St., Bridgeton, or online through the Beanstack app.
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