Rosa Parks Day honors the American Civil Rights hero on December 1st, 1955, the day she refused to give up her seat in a bus to a white person and move to the back of the bus. Mrs. Parks was arrested that day for violating segregation laws. This act began a journey toward the Montgomery Bus Boycott, and its monumental role in the Civil Rights struggle and the emergence of Dr. King, age 26, as a voice for the boycott.

Black Agency, Participation, and Impact on the American Revolution.
Blacks were present at all the major battles in New Jersey, such as Trenton (1776), Princeton (1777), Fort Mercer (1777), Monmouth (1778), and Springfield (1780), as well as those elsewhere such as Saratoga (1777), Savannah (1779), and Yorktown (1781).

Enslaved men such as Oliver Cromwell in Burlington, Primus Still in Deptford, Isaac Murrey of Mannington, and Amos Fisher in Bridgeton were emancipated as a result of service in the Continental Army.

Read more
Black Agency, Participation, and Impact on the American Revolution
Bibliography of Resources

In the spring, the Commission’s annual scholarship contest attracted more than 400 entries from New Jersey high school students. Essays were submitted reflecting the significance of Rosa Parks’ refusal to move to the back of the bus which ignited the 381-day Montgomery AL bus boycott that brought about the desegregation of the state of Alabama’s bus service.

Scholarship recipients were chosen by an independent panel of readers based on their essays, school transcripts, participation in community service, and letters of recommendation. Scholarships in the amount of $5000 were awarded to ten outstanding high school seniors to continue their education at institutions.

MLK25 Scholar: 1
Cheryl Djan
Rutgers University, New Brunswick
Technology High School

MLK25 Scholar: 2
Nathaniel Esubonteng
Stanford University
Science Park High School

MLK25 Scholar: 3
Aydan Howell
Widener University
Middle Township High School

MLK25 Scholar: 4
Braylie LaFisca
Chestnut Hill College
Allentown High School

MLK25 Scholar: 5
Emily Laing
Rutgers University, New Brunswick
Neptune High School

2025 SCHOLARS

MLK25 Scholar: 6
Lisandro Moron
Saint Peter's University
José Martí Steam Academy

MLK25 Scholar: 7
Nysalee Rosa
Kean University
Newark School of Global Studies

MLK25 Scholar: 8
Jeremy Shore
University of Southern California
Cherry Hill High School East

MLK25 Scholar: 9
Marco Vilet
Carnegie Mellon University
Technology High School

MLK25 Scholar: 10
Alexia Zambito
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Holmdel High School

On Monday, January 20, 2025, Commission Chair George Guy, Jr. raised public awareness of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s ideals and philosophy as he represented the Commission during the Community segment of PHL 17 in Philadelphia. Below is the brief video interview.

For more information on activities happening statewide to honor Dr. King, For details, download the 2025 MLK Day Commemorative Events and Celebrations list.

After reviewing submissions from almost 200 New Jersey high school seniors, the New Jersey Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Commission is pleased to introduce the 10 winners of the 2025 NJ MLK Jr Scholarship Essay Contest.
‘Looking Back at Dr. King’s 1964 Nobel Peace Prize speech

MLK24 Scholar: 1
Rchin Bari
Brown University
Essex County Newark Tech

MLK24 Scholar: 2
Brooke Bokser
Cornell University
Northern Valley Regional High School at Demarest

MLK24 Scholar: 3
Alondra Calva
Villanova University
John E Dwyer Technology Academy

MLK24 Scholar: 4
Taylor Douglas
American University
Freehold Township High School

MLK24 Scholar: 5
Ella Ehrlich
Cornell University
Bergen County Academies

2024 SCHOLARS

MLK24 Scholar: 6
Bernard Liang
Duke University
Manalapan High School

MLK24 Scholar: 7
Reese Passuth
University of Hartford
Union County Vocational Technical High School

MLK24 Scholar: 8
Savannah Rodriguez
Hampton University
Rahway High School

MLK24 Scholar: 9
Makenna Thomas
Alvernia University
Vernon Township High School

MLK24 Scholar: 10
Rochelle Vil
TBD
William L. Dickinson High School

“The 2024 essay contest winners shared insightful comments about the significance of the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to Dr. King as reflected in his remarkable speech,” said New Jersey Lieutenant Governor Tahesha Way, who oversees the MLK Jr. Commission in her capacity as Secretary of State. “I applaud these young people for their commitment to community service and furthering the legacy of Dr. King through both their words and their actions.”

A virtual awards ceremony was held in the evening of May 29 to announce the 2024 MLK Scholars who come from across the state. Hosted by NJ MLK JR Commission Chairman George Guy and members of the Commission, the ten scholars were in attendance to accept their awards.

“On behalf of the New Jersey Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Commission, we extend our congratulations to our ten MLK Scholars who will be moving onto post-secondary education in the fall,” said Commission Chairman George Guy. “Their essays about Dr. King’s famous Nobel Prize speech and how his work continues to inspire both their academic work and community service, gives us all abundant hope for the future.”

The 2024 MLK Scholars will be awarded $5,000 scholarship for the university or college of their choice in the fall of 2024.

After reviewing submissions for almost 200 New Jersey high school seniors, the New Jersey Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Commission announces the 10 winners of ‘Injustice Anywhere is a Threat to Justice Everywhere’ 2023 Scholarship Essay Contest:

MLK23 Scholar: 1
SEKNA BAZZI
Barnard College of Columbia University
Science Park High School

MLK23 Scholar: 2
ALBERT CAESAR
Princeton University
Ridge High School

MLK23 Scholar: 3
SPENCER JAHNG
TBA
The Pingry School

MLK23 Scholar: 4
MIRIKA JAMBUDI
Harvard University
The Pingry School

MLK23 Scholar: 5
MATTHEW LEE
Columbia University
East Brunswick High School

2023 SCHOLARS

MLK23 Scholar: 6
JADA SAMPSON
TBA
Academy for Performing Arts

MLK23 Scholar: 7
KASAI SANCHEZ
William Paterson University
Teaneck High School

MLK23 Scholar: 8
AMANDA THOMAS
TBA
Union County Magnet High School

MLK23 Scholar: 9
DEVIN TORRES
University of Southern California
Lenape High School

MLK23 Scholar: 10
JEFFREY XU
Princeton University
Livingston High School

“Our 2023 essay contest winners demonstrated a thoughtful understanding of how Dr. King’s fight against injustice was inspired by Mahatma Gandhi’s non-violent resistance movement that successfully ended almost a century of British colonial rule in India. I am thrilled to congratulate these young leaders and extend our wishes for their future success,” said NJ Secretary of State Tahesha Way.

“On behalf of the New Jersey Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Commission, we extend our congratulations to our ten MLK Scholars who will be entering college in the fall,” Commission Chairman George Guy said. “Their essays about Dr. King’s legacy and his inspiration for their academic work and community service, has given all of us great hope for the future.”

The 2023 MLK Scholars will be awarded $5,000 scholarship for the university or college of their choice.

We, the Commissioners of the New Jersey Martin Luther King Commemorative Commission, denounce the senseless murders of George Floyd; Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, Tony McDade, and countless other African Americans who for too long have been the victims of institutionalized racial injustice in this country. In his book Why We Can’t Wait, Dr. King wrote “Three hundred years of humiliation, abuse and deprivation cannot be expected to find voice in a whisper.” We decry the effects of systemic racial discrimination, not with a whisper, but with a thunderous outcry that we will match with renewed vigilance and purposeful and powerful actions.

Each year, the Commission, the first such State Commission in the Nation, recalls historical events in the life of Dr. King and the Civil Rights Movement, while focusing on issues of current import. We have commemorated the Montgomery Bus Boycott, Jackie Robinson breaking the color line in baseball, and “Women Who Led” in the struggle for civil rights. This year, we have chosen the theme: “Youth, We Hear You,” recognizing the emerging voices of a new generation. We will host a Youth Town Hall in the Fall, and our annual Commemorative on January 17, 2021, which will be followed by a statewide virtual Youth Conference and Day of Service on January 18, 2021.

In the face of the recent historically deplorable events, and the extraordinary moment that they offer, the Commission plans to develop an agenda focused on key issues that provide both challenges and opportunities for progress. We believe that New Jersey can be a role model to finally recognize the fullest manifestation of democracy in this country. This vision calls for policies that guarantee equal protection under the law; that promise that race and poverty will no longer be death sentences; and an end to mass incarceration. We call for eliminating deadly force police protocols, de-militarized policing, developing a comprehensive plan to end school desegregation, and exploring ideas that are being studied related to reparative justice. We also call for appropriate funding for counseling services for students to address bullying and racial discrimination. We will make our agenda known throughout the state and will invite groups and individuals, of all ages and backgrounds, to join us in achieving these objectives. We will also highlight the ongoing work of organizations throughout New Jersey and provide a platform for them to share our mutual commitment and goals.

As we recognize Dr. King’s call to action in the “fierce urgency of now,” we call upon everyone to become involved, to join us in partnership, and to go from strength to strength together. Please join us!

It has been 400 years since the first arrival in English-occupied North America of enslaved people from Africa. To mark this anniversary, the Commission is highlighting resources related to the history of slavery in New Jersey.