Patriots Week, a beloved tradition in Trenton, celebrates our city’s rich history and the integral role Trenton played in the Revolutionary War. When speaking about Revolution, we often default to famous figures like George Washington and Alexander Hamilton. However, we may not recall the lives of everyday people whose contributions were just as critical to the formation of our country. To help share some of these stories, the organizers of Patriots Week announced the brand-new “A Revolutionary Conversation” event, which will share the perspectives of African Americans during the Revolutionary War.
On Tuesday, December 27th, from 3-5 pm, the Trenton Free Public Library will be transformed into a living museum as students from Sprout U School of the Arts share the perspectives of African Americans throughout the Revolutionary War. This event will explore the impact of the Revolution on enslaved people and explore the views of those excluded from the ideals of “all men are created equal.” The individuals the students will portray were selected from biographies in Answering the Cry for Freedom by Gretchen Woelfle. All attendees of the event will receive a free copy of the book.
During the afternoon, guests can hear the stories of African-American continental soldiers, loyalists, enslaved people, and citizens. Furthermore, the event will facilitate difficult conversations surrounding our history and discover how we can most effectively respect the shared ideals of equality. A New Jersey Council for the Humanities community history grant to the Old Mill Hill Society funds this free event. This is an indoor event, so masks are encouraged for guests.
This profound event is part of the exciting lineup featured for this year’s Patriots Week. Patriots Week is a collaboration between the Trenton Downtown Association, the City of Trenton, and various other local non-profits. The weeklong celebration tells the tale of what happened after George Washington and his Continental troops crossed the Delaware River. They surprised Hessian soldiers fighting for the British while housed at barracks in Trenton. While Patriots Week was unfortunately canceled in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID-19, the celebration is finally able to make its triumphant return for 2022. The organizers hope to restore the event to its full glory by next year and revive the much-anticipated Battle of Trenton reenactment.
Some other activities you can look forward to this year include a Trenton Battlefield walking tour, musket demonstrations at the Old Barracks Museum, a pub crawl, a Fire Walk along the Assunpink Creek, a New Year’s Eve bonfire at the Trent House, and more! A full calendar of events can be found here: Patriots Week – Calendar. If you have any questions regarding the event, please get in touch with the Trenton Downtown Association at (609) 337-8439. So get ready, Trenton, because a week of revolutionary fun is upon us!
