Honoring Cudjo Banquante!
Film Screening & Genealogy Workshop Events!
The James Brown African American Room at the Newark Public Library is proud to be part of a citywide series of events honoring Cudjo Banquante. As part of this celebration, the library will host two special programs: a screening of Black Patriots: Heroes of the Revolution on Saturday, April 19, and a genealogy workshop on Tuesday, April 29. Learn more about these events below.
These programs are part of a weeklong series of events taking place at arts and culture institutions across Newark, NJ—including exhibits, guided bus tours, panel discussions, art workshops and more.
Genealogy Workshop
Tuesday 4/29 at 6PM
Interested in researching your family tree? Want to know more about your roots? Join us for a workshop on how to start your journey! Genealogists Janice Cross Gilyard and Cherekana Feliciano from the New Jersey chapter of the Afro-American Genealogical and Historical Society, Inc. [AAGHS] will present a workshop that will offer resources and instruction for tracing family histories, focusing on the unique challenges and resources available for African American families.
Meet the workshop facilitators
Janice Gilyard
Janice Gilyard is a dedicated genealogist and historian with over 27 years of experience in family research. She has traced her ancestry back to 1720, uncovering African American, Indigenous/Native American, and European roots. Her lineage includes authors, midwives, abolitionists, mariners, and college founders—each inspiring her mission to preserve their legacies.
Janice is an active member of several historical and genealogical organizations. She also serves on the boards of the National Genealogical Society, the Genealogical Society of New Jersey, Sons & Daughters of the U.S. Middle Passage, and the 313+ Ancestors Speak Project.
She has contributed to Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr. and has presented nationally at conferences, universities, and libraries. Passionate about education and storytelling, Janice believes her ancestors chose her to carry their stories forward.
Cherekana Feliciano
Cherekana Feliciano is a family and public historian with over 15 years of experience in genealogical research. She holds a B.A. in History from Rutgers University and a J.D. from the University of Maryland.
In late 2019, she began informal research on Black cemeteries in New Jersey and recently launched BlackCemeteriesofNewJersey.com to share her findings and raise awareness. She also occasionally shares her family research through her blog, Curious Conjurer.
Professionally, Cherekana works as an Associate Conflict Navigator in the Office of Workplace Culture at Rutgers University. Her work bridges history, advocacy, and healing, and she is passionate about uncovering and preserving the often-overlooked stories of African American ancestors and communities.
Janice Gilyard and Cherekana Feliciano have both played key leadership roles in the New Jersey Chapter of the Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society (NJAAHGS), with Janice serving as a past president and Cherekana currently serving as president. For over 35 years, NJAAHGS has worked to preserve African ancestral family history, genealogy, and cultural diversity by promoting research and sharing information throughout the community. The chapter fosters a supportive network where members share experiences and resources to help one another document and celebrate their family histories.
Together, Janice and Cherekana also co-host Speak On It! History & Genealogy Conversations with Janice & Cherekana, a podcast that highlights personal stories, research strategies, and engaging conversations designed to inspire others to uncover and preserve their ancestral roots.
Film Screening
Saturday 4/19 at 2PM
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.
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.
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.
