Join us Saturday April 19th at 2PM in the James Brown African American Room at the Newark Public Library for a screening of Black Patriots: Heroes of the Revolution!

From the initial sparks of revolution in Boston to the climactic Siege of Yorktown and beyond, this Emmy-nominated film paints a comprehensive picture of the African American experience during the Revolutionary War. Hear the story of the war within the revolution through the eyes of some of the most crucial and significant African American figures of our country’s foundation including Crispus Attucks, Peter Salem, Phillis Wheatley and James Armistead Lafayette. Features NBA legend, best-selling author and esteemed activist Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

For questions about this event please call (973) 733-5411 or email jbaar@npl.org

This screening is part of a series of events honoring Cudjo Banquante, including three semi-permanent exhibits, art and genealogy workshops, bus tours, panel discussions, and more!

Click here to see the full series of events honoring Cudjo Banquante!

Cudjo Banquante was born into royalty in the 1720s in the Gold Coast (modern-day Ghana). As a youth, he was captured by European slave traders, taken across the Atlantic, and sold into slavery to the Coe family in Newark, New Jersey. During the Revolutionary War, he served in the Essex and Morris County militias, participating in key battles such as Monmouth, Germantown, and Yorktown. He also spent the winter of 1777 at Valley Forge with George Washington and later fought alongside General Sullivan at Yorktown in 1781. Around 1784, he was emancipated for his military service, possibly due to a law passed by the New Jersey legislature that freed all enslaved individuals who had served in the war.

In 1794, the Coe family granted Cudjo a one-acre plot of land on High Street (now Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard) between Mercer and William Streets, near what is now Arts High School. There, he started a business, establishing a successful nursery where he imported and grew ornamental plants. His garden became well-known in the area, often referred to as “Cudjo Banquante’s garden” in property deeds.

Cudjo went on to become the first documented African American businessperson in Newark, and possibly in the state of New Jersey. He lived to be around 100 years old, passing away in 1823, and was buried in the cemetery of Newark’s Trinity Church, now the site of the New Jersey Performing Arts Center.

Click here to learn more about Cudjo Banquante’s story!

Unable to make it to the screening? You can watch the film here on Kanopy for free with your library card! 

If you’re interested in streaming movies and TV shows, reading eBooks, listening to audiobooks, taking online classes, or even learning a new language, check out JBAAR ONLINE—our hub for accessing free digital platforms like Kanopy (streaming movies and TV shows), Hoopla (eBooks, audiobooks and more) and LinkedIn Learning (online classes). You’ll also find staff picks across all formats, plus information on how to get a library card. Everything is free with your Newark Public Library card. Visit JBAAR ONLINE