UPCOMING EVENT
The Head that Wears the Crown: Black Women’s Headwear Exhibit
Sep 20 - Sep 21
From slavery to freedom, Black women have expressed their creativity and resistance through the crowns of their heads. From head wraps to “church hats,” headwear symbolized freedom, commitment to spiritual life, and a love for fashion that enslaved and free women shared. The Head that Wears the Crown explores the past, present, and future of African American women’s headwear.
Our Story.
Our History.
Our Time.
A Community Engaged in a Broader Understanding of American History
Located at the National Historic Register-listed Mt. Zion AME Church in Central New Jersey, SSAAM is dedicated to being a resolute voice, celebrating and preserving the African American story—from the Trans-Atlantic slave trade to the present day.
Our hope is that visitors will find the museum to be a sanctuary alive in history and inspired by our shared future. SSAAM offers a truthful and more inclusive sharing of the history and contributions of the founding African American families of the Sourland region of Central New Jersey since the time of New Jersey's participation in the transatlantic slave trade. We offer programming and spaces where our community comes together to understand and create solutions to repair the harm caused by American slavery. We unite to honor and celebrate the ingenuity, brilliance, resilience, and indomitable spirit of the African American community.
“I’m just in awe of these people and history. This research has completely changed my life. It told me who I am.”
Beverly Mills
Co-Founder
