From the Towns: Thanks for supporters of Black History and Women’s Rights resolutions

Our history is how we make sense of the past and use that understanding to move into the future. This month, the Hopewell Township Committee celebrated both the rich history of African Americans in the Hopewell Valley as well as the 100^th anniversary of New Jersey ratifying the 19^th Amendment, which confirmed women’s right to vote. 

New Jersey became the 29^th state to ratify the 19^th amendment on February 9, 1920. To honor the 100^th anniversary of this historic event for gender equality, the Hopewell Township Committee unanimously passed a Resolution that chronicled the history of the suffrage movement here at the February 3rd meeting.  The Township building also was lit in purple in celebration.

Black History month is celebrated nationwide in February and, at the Township Committee meeting on the 18th, we both honored our own rich history of African American contributions in the Hopewell Valley and formally paid tribute to the bravery, sacrifices, and accomplishments of Black Americans in the Hopewell Valley and beyond. 

A beautiful Resolution was written by Township resident Catherine Fulmer-Hogan and Beverly Mills, Pennington Councilwoman and author (with Elaine Buck) of If these Stones Could Talk: African American Presence in the Hopewell Valley, Sourland Mountain, and Surrounding Regions of New Jersey. The Resolution, which described the many outstanding contributions by local African Americans throughout history, was read into the record by all of the Committee Members and was unanimously approved.

I would like to personally thank everyone who came out to support both Resolutions and encourage everyone to read the important history contained in both. They are available under the Township Committee agenda section for each meeting on the Township’s website. 

Courtney Peters-Manning, Member, Hopewell Township Committee

Writing as an individual only

From the Towns is a new feature of MercerMe. Each week, we hope to hear from an elected representative from one or more of our Valley municipalities on current issues affecting residents.