Trenton African American Cultural Festival
August 16, 2014
12 – 6 pm
Schedule of Events at Ellarslie
12 pm – Double Gallery – Book Discussion: The Warmth of Other Suns: the Epic Story of America’s Great Migration by Isabel Wilkerson.
In this epic, beautifully written masterwork, Pulitzer Prize–winning author Isabel Wilkerson chronicles one of the great untold stories of American history: the decades-long migration of black citizens who fled the South for northern and western cities, in search of a better life. From 1915 to 1970, this exodus of almost six million people changed the face of America. The book has a strong impact on all who read it. What impact did it have on you?
Facilitator – Carolyn Stetson
Maximum 40 people
1 pm, 3 pm, 5 pm – Malloy Gallery – Student Films
Produced by the young artists of Both Hands
Facilitator – Bentrice Jusu
Maximum 20 people
Breaking Free, Kenya Bullock No longer wanting to be molded by sculptors, this is a depiction of a sculpture making and taking its own shape.
It Could be You, Shana Langley Frustrated at the lack of understanding, one 17 year old girl decided to challenge traditional perceptions about gangs, criminal activity, and the people who are involved. Seeking first to understand, then to be understood, Shana is thrust into the lives of three Trentonians who come from completely different worlds. As her journey progresses, Shana comes to an interesting conclusion. Anyone can fall victim to criminal activities. Even you…
What Doesn’t Kill Makes You Stronger, Keeosha Harris We’ve all participated in Cancer Walk and have maybe even donated to causes dedicated to finding the cure to cancer, but what else can be done? How does it really feel to live with Cancer? This Short Documentary depicts the true realties of Cancer. 
Hood Ball, Hafeez Abdullah What happens when coolness can’t save you from the toughness of the Streets? When taking a turn for the worse literally means walking on the wrong street at the wrong time? This short films teaches the well known game of Hood Ball, and motivates everyone to play it when their life is on the line.
Thomas Malloy Battle Monument
1 pm – Double Gallery — Negro Life In, Around, and Beyond the Shadow of Trenton’s Battle Monument.
Power Point Presentation and Discussion Produced and presented by Betty Lacy Maximum 40 people
2 pm – Double Gallery – Discussion: The Great Migration and You.
Did your family migrate North to avoid the Jim Crow South? Share your story. Where did they come from? What brought them to Trenton? Have any joined the reverse migration back to the South? (This discussion may be filmed to capture our valuable oral history.) Facilitator – Darren Freedom Green Maximum 40 people
The Higbee Street School was built in 1857 as the first in Trenton to provide free public education for African-American students. It still stands at 20 Bellevue Avenue.
Photo courtesy Trentoniana Collection, Trenton Public Library
3 pm — Double Gallery — Three Centuries of African-American Historic Sites in Trenton.
A variety of places in Trenton tell the story from the 18th century through the Civil Rights era. Presented by the Trenton Historical Society with Helen Shannon Maximum 40 people
All events are hosted by the Trenton Museum Society and are free and open to the public.
For more information about the Festival, click here.
For Dan Aubrey’s article in US 1 about the Festival, click here, but don’t be fooled: these events are all happening inside Ellarslie.
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