The above quote by poetess, Phillis Wheatly, remarks upon the principle of freedom, in which many African American soldiers on either the British Loyalist side or the American Rebel side of the American Revolutionary War fought. Freedom is also the basis for many of the letters and stories of the African American slaves/soldiers and their owners which are featured in Oh Freedom - Blacks on the Battlefront and in the Aftermath of the American Revolutionary War in New Jersey exhibit, which is currently being showcased at the Liberty Hall Museum Carriage House. Many of the letters on display come from Liberty Hall's own manuscript collection; these resources, such as letters from South Carolinian Politian, John Kean, and Susan Livingston Kean Niemcewicz, John Kean's wife after she remarried, provide a first-hand view as to some of the thoughts and activities during the time of the American Revolutionary War. "The letters are some amazing documents," Liberty Hall Archivist and Manuscript Collector, Erin Algahandoor stated and said that four new documents from the Liberty Hall collection will be added to the existing display of the Oh Freedom! exhibit in the upcoming weeks. "We are currently finding something else," she quoted.
Oh Freedom! is free for students, faculty members and the public to view and explores the role of African Americans in and after the Revolutionary War. 10,000 African Americans served on the British Loyalist side and nearly 5,000 African American troops on the American Rebel side, whichever side they believed offered them the best view of freedom. Oh Freedom! also displays the impact of African American slaves on the economy of New Jersey. "The exhibit is a lot more than black history," stated history Professor and Exhibit Director, Jonathan Mercantini, "The exhibit shows a central part of New Jersey's history."
Though some may think slavery to be more centered in the Southern states, slavery was very widespread in the Northern States. In fact, during 1810, the state of New Jersey had the highest number of slaves in the North. Mercantini states, "It is important to learn more about black history in the community and in local history," and through the letters on display at the exhibit and the local history of Kean University, it is known that slavery existed at Kean Hall. "African-Americans were important actors at Liberty Hall," Mercantini said. Mercantini also stated that African American history will continue to expand at Kean University and that more courses will be available for students in the near future.
Liberty Hall, which is located across from Kean University on Morris Ave, will be featuring the Oh Freedom! exhibit until March 31, 2010. The exhibit is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. If anyone misses the chance to view the exhibit, Oh Freedom! is a traveling exhibit and is displayed at historic sites in New Jersey and other locations in the state throughout the year. In conjunction with the exhibit, a panel discussion, Black Americans in New Jersey during the Era of American Independence, was held on Thursday, February 25, 2010 at the Liberty Hall Museum's Carriage. The panel discussion was chaired by Dr. Mark Lender, Interim Vice President for Academic Affairs House and discussed research findings of African Americans in New Jersey during the American Independence era. A speech by Pulitzer Prize-winning author, David Hackett Fisher, as in conjunction with the exhibit will be on Thursday, March 4, 2010, at 2 p.m. at the Carriage House. Mr. Fisher will be speaking on the history of slavery and the abolition of slavery in New Jersey during the American Revolution era. For more information about the Oh Freedom! exhibit, contact Dr. Jonathan Mercantini at jmercant@kean.edu.
