Not only has 2020 changed our society due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but it also calls for social justice and equality, which changed policies, protocols and procedures following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
How do we use what we have seen, heard and learned, not just in 2020 but also in the decades before that, to bring peace and equality for African Americans into our society?
Dr. Hettie Williams, assistant professor of African American Studies at Monmouth University, recently discussed with me about Black History Month and how we can use what we learn to change the world.
Monmouth County and Jersey Shore have roots over the years in the civil rights movement as well as local African Americans who have changed the world through their activities in business, science, entertainment, and more.
It starts with Dr. Walter McAfee, a scientist and mathematician who worked at Camp Evans, Fort Monmouth and who lived the rest of his life in Lake Como, Monmouth County, until his death in 1995.
During his life, Dr. McAfee done a lot in the world of science and played a factor in the “space race”.
“He was one of the hidden figures in science,” said Dr. Williams. “He worked on the important ‘Project Diana“That was basically the precursor to space racing in the 1950s.”
Dr. McAfee taught at Monmouth University and was “one of the few African Americans who got a degree,” said Dr. Williams, who received his PhD from Cornell University in 1949.
His work in the space race is perhaps his greatest accomplishment, not just for the Jersey Shore but for the US and the world as well.
“What matters to McAfee and the black scientists who worked with him is that they actually started the space program. We think more of the race to the moon in the 50s and 60s, and it actually started right here the Jersey Shore with black scientists like McAfee, “said Dr. Williams.
Dr. McAfee was also separate from “Operation Moon Bounce” That was “the way to get signals ricocheted off the moon and it actually started the space program,” said Dr. Williams.
Asbury Park and Long Branch, where many beaches, boardwalks, and other entertainment options are to be found, especially in summer, were also home to some of the roots of the 20th century civil rights movement.
“I argue that the civil rights movement has its roots in New Jersey, including the Jersey Shore,” said Dr. Williams. “Asbury Park was known for being one of the more active chapters of the NAACP, now known as the Asbury Park / Neptune Chapter of the NAACP. “
On one particular night in 1947, one of the black scientists working at Camp Evans found a burning cross in his garden, explains Dr. Williams, and then called the NAACP, which resulted in a response from the local chapter.
“They came, they got together, about 27 members of the Asbury Park NAACP who actually got into their cars and they were armed when they got to this scientist’s house to protect him,” said Dr. Williams.
All of this contributes to the larger civil rights movement, explains Dr. Williams, as there is a debate among historians about how it was countered with nonviolent direct action, but she adds that there were members of the NAACP who carried firearms.
Asbury Park and the Jersey Shore continued to have more of a local impact which was eventually attributed to civil rights movements across the country with what happened here.
“Civil rights are one of the important stories that I think everyone should know as the civil rights movement is labeled as the fight for black equality and continues to this day with the Black Lives Matter movement,” said Dr. Williams. “People should realize that this is a larger continuum of history, it is nothing new, there have always been fights for black equality.”
As the struggle for black equality continues in our community and society today, Dr. Williams believes things are in a better place than they were years ago, but far from being the same.
“I think there has obviously been progress, but at the same time there have been setbacks in history,” said Dr. Williams. “One of the advances I would say was the acceptance of African American cultures, including musical culture. There was a higher level of integration with black culture than with social and economic integration.”
The state of New Jersey preceded the goal of racial equality, explains Dr. Williams, but it also reflects some of the differences that can be found in our country.
“I would argue that New Jersey was progressive in many ways, but also a reflection of the nation in terms of setbacks,” said Dr. Williams.
Dr. Williams says there might be some debate about whether Central Jersey exists, and that’s an article for another day, but she explains that sometimes it looks like there are only two sections of New Jersey in total that are exactly in that Middle are divided.
“There are two states, the northern part of the state is more like the northern part of the country while South Jersey is more like the southern part of the country,” said Dr. Williams. “In its colonial history, it was really two entities that merged into one. So we have these two stories on the borders of the state, so I think historians look more at the history of New Jersey to get a better understanding of it how far has the country advanced. “
So how can we bridge the gap and bring the society together for racial equality?
Education.
“Our public libraries are a great resource for local history, and they often keep primary source records that historians need to tell the story of the past, and many of our public libraries often have monthly programs. I know any public library is me gave a monthly programming talk and it’s usually thematic, a lot of them talk about African American history so I’d say study, educate, that doesn’t mean you have to be in a college classroom, it could be for you to sign up for one of these programs at our local libraries to learn more about the past, “said Dr. Williams. “I think history will make us better citizens.”
Education is a key tool in achieving racial equality, but Dr. Williams also explains that it is important for us as a society to do the same in life and create equal opportunities and attitudes for different types of jobs from education to sports and beyond.
“The history of our country is linked to the history of race and racism, and at its core we have to accept the humanity of all people, and I think that is the root of the discrimination,” said Dr. Williams. “We have a firm idea of an individual based on the color of their skin, and we need to break free of these beliefs and accept that there is only one human race, homo-sapiens. The color of a person’s skin is not considered sufficient biologically considered information to designate someone of a different race, that’s an idea we created … racists, we know that there is only one human race, we are all members of the human race and every person should have access and Have the opportunity. “
You can follow Vin Ebenau on Twitter and Instagram and email news tips to [email protected].
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