North Brunswick / New Brunswick Public Memory Project

Art

These public mural art installations are a reflection of the historical research, contemporary student reflections, and the professional creative response process of Mural Artist Albertus Josef. These resulting artworks connect contemporary aesthetic public art installation with the living public memory of the events of 1973. 

Advocacy

The New Brunswick/North Brunswick High Schools Public Memory Project launched in 2022 as a collaboration between community stakeholders, scholars, and artists, focused on the creation of public programming and art that explores histories of school segregation in the city of New Brunswick, the township of North Brunswick, and in Middlesex County. 

Community

This project is built primarily on the life-course oral histories of individuals who were students during the period of school separation in the early 1970’s. The communities of contemporary student voices in these two school districts participated in reflection and response workshops that provided the historical thread of the importance of these historic events to the lived experience of students 

 

Collaborating Partners

The New Brunswick/North Brunswick High Schools Public Memory Project is a collaboration between community stakeholders, scholars, students, and artists. The project is co-directed by coLAB Arts and the American Studies Department at Rutgers University, New Brunswick. Support for this project comes from the Arts Institute of Middlesex County, the New Jersey Historical Commission, the Rutgers Research Council, and the Rutgers Institute for the Study of Global Racial Justice. Special thanks to NBTHS Assistant Principal & Supervisor of Social Studies, Mark Zielinski.

 

North Brunswick

Oral History Lesson

Representation Definitions

The students developed their own definitions of Representation .

What does representation mean to you?

Student Work Gallery

Want us to feature your classroom project? Submit below!

New Brunswick

Mural Selfie Gallery

Take a look at everyone who has interacted with the mural. Submit a selfie of you own! Tag us with #NBPMP on Instagram and Facebook.

 

NBPMP Oral Histories

This is an ongoing collaboration with Andy Urban and Rutgers University’s Department of American Studies and includes oral histories with individuals who were present for the school district split between New Brunswick and North Brunswick in 1974, or whose experiences help frame an understanding for the conditions that led to the district split.

Featured
Joe Nastus

Joe Nastus loves his hometown of New Brunswick and details many fond memories of growing up in the area. Joe worked full-time in the plumbing business, owning a company that he sold in 2015. He discusses the many reinventions of New Brunswick that he has witnessed over the years. He is involved with Rotary fundraising, likes to take cross-country motorcycle trips, and is earning his private pilot’s license.

Jimmie Staton

Jimmie Staton is an active member of the New Brunswick community. Mr. Staton’s narration offers reflections on white flight, racism, inner city schools, and being Black in America in the 21st century.

James Wiggins

James Wiggins is a native of New Brunswick where the majority of his memories take place. James talks about growing up on Loretta Street, his experiences in school, and the importance of his neighborhood in shaping that type of person that he wanted to be. He is a life-long musician who, after helping set up Crossroads Theatre Company, a Black theater company in New Brunswick, became an actor himself.  Now retired from truck driving, James narrates his deep love for his family, especially for his wife and his late son.