Enslavement

Essex County has a long and complicated history with enslavement, including strong links to the transatlantic slave trade as well as local effects of slavery. In Essex County, local Black resistance to enslavement took many forms, from enslaved people’s self-liberation, to participation in the abolitionist movement, to maintaining a sense of community and culture.

Education

Educational spaces have often been a catalyst for Black activist movements throughout history. In Essex County, Black families and students have fought hard for equal rights and access to these spaces.

Post-Emancipation Perseverence

As enslaved Black people began to experience new pathways to freedom in Essex County, this process of “gradual emancipation” was often slow and unjust. Despite this, many formerly enslaved people and their descendants showed remarkable resilience, carving out lives for themselves and their families. Some even become successful entrepreneurs.

Community Spaces/Events

Throughout history, Black Americans have found spaces to create a community bonded over a shared identity. The creation of these spaces and the strength of the Black community were essential elements of the sweeping activist movements in Essex County. Not only did they provide physical meeting places and times for the Black community to organize and come together, but they also allowed for shared experiences to create a culture within the Black community.