The New Jersey Council for the Humanities (NJCH) has awarded the 2025 Stanley N. Katz Prize for Excellence in Public Humanities to Honoring Cudjo Banquante! This project, administered by the Newark History Society, brought to life the little-known story of Cudjo Banquante through a weeklong slate of 20 events.
The winning effort was produced by a cross organizational team to share a story that embodies both the brutality of slavery and the resilience of the human spirit.
Cudjo Banquante’s life story is extraordinary:
• Born of royal heritage in West Africa.
• Kidnapped and forced into slavery in New Jersey.
• Enlisted and fought for four years in George Washington’s Continental Army as a substitute for his enslaver during the Revolutionary War.
• Gained his freedom and became Newark’s first documented Black business owner, overseeing a thriving gardening enterprise that made his name a local landmark.
“Cudjo Banquante’s life is a reminder that the American story is not complete without the voices of those too long left out. This project brings his extraordinary journey back into public memory. This is the precise work of the humanities and the reason why this exceptional project deserves the Katz Prize,” said Carin Berkowitz, executive director of NJCH.
The awarded project, held in spring 2025, brought together a coalition of dozens of organizations, including the NJ Daughters of the American Revolution, New Jersey Historical Society, NJ Center for Performing Arts, and the Newark History Society.
The Katz Prize is named in honor of Stanley N. Katz and carries a cash award of $5,000.
Honorable Mentions
In addition to the top prize, three projects received honorable mentions:
1. The Red Bank Battlefield Archaeology Project: Engaged the public in the humanities work related to excavating and studying the Revolutionary War battle and burial site.
2. Luna Stage Company’s The Ground on Which We Stand: A theatrical piece inspired by the history and legacy of The James Howe House, the first home in Montclair owned by a formerly enslaved person.
3. “Our Common Ground: Poetry in Community”: A series of workshops by People & Stories / Gente y Cuentos that used poetry, literature, and discussion to build community within marginalized communities in New Jersey.
To learn more about the 2025 awardees, visit the NJCH website: https://njhumanities.org/katz-prize.
