Exhibit At Rialto Chronicles African American History In Westfield

WESTFIELD, NJ — In honor of Black History Month, the MLK Association of Westfield is holding an exhibit that chronicles African American history in Westfield dating back to 1720.

The exhibit at the Center for Creativity at the Rialto is open to the public throughout Black History Month and will feature a series of events, including talks and a jazz performance.

A timeline of events takes visitors on a historical journey from slavery and colonial times through the present day, including an exhibit on the excellence of Black athletes in Westfield and a specially commissioned quilt highlighting the history.

Two short documentaries by Westfield’s own Isaiah Anderson will also be presented — one about the Black Professional Zone in Westfield and another about an African American neighborhood that once existed in what is now Brightwood Park.

After the end of the civil war, many improverished families settled in the "Big Woods" section of Westfield, or Brightwood, building a small neighborhood that was eventually nurtured by the vibrant social life at the Shady Rest Golf Course, the first African American owned and operated country club in the United States, which is located in Scotch Plains.

Brightwood Park was acquired by the town of Westfield in the 1960's with funding of about $120,000 from NJ Green Acres grants, according to Friends of Brightwood.

When the town acquired the land, they demolished all the homes in the area. Most of these homes were owned by African Americans.

According to Friends of Brightwood, "The seizure of the properties from this community to form Brightwood is a testament to the racism of the time, although there were protests at the time to these actions by community members."

Remains of some of these homes can still be visible in Brightwood Park.

You can view this free exhibit at the Center for Creativity at the Rialto from Jan. 28 through Feb. 28 on Fridays from 3:00 - 7:00, and Saturdays/Sundays from 12:00 - 5:00.