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62-414: The sankofa bird appears frequently in traditional Akan art , and has also been adopted as an important symbol in an African-American and African Diaspora context to represent the need to reflect on the past to build a successful future. It is one of the most widely dispersed adinkra symbols, appearing in modern jewelry, tattoos, and clothing. The Akan people of Ghana use an adinkra symbol to represent

124-469: A non-partisan basis in elections held as part of the May municipal elections. The mayor is elected directly by the voters. The Township Council includes six members, of which two council seats are elected from the township at-large and one council seat is elected from each of four wards . A deputy mayor is selected by the six council members from their members, and this position is largely ceremonial. Though

186-503: A counselor to a chief and a messenger to the people. The creation and sharing of proverbs orally allows the Akan to access information about cultural customs, legal matters, and a variety of knowledge in specified fields; the linguist staff signifies a badge of authority for upholding these traditions. Like other Akan art, the linguist staffs are an example of work that chiefly express a functional, political, and intellectual meaning rather than

248-426: A distinctive blending of art and philosophy. Akan chiefs managed generations worth of gold regalia; finely crafted objects such as crowns, beads, bracelets, pectoral disks, swords and sword ornaments, linguist staffs, and umbrella finials. Gold holds a significant socio-political role in the highly structured Akan society; it was used as a display of power as well as a way to legitimize authority. History recognizes

310-615: A method of casting known as lost-wax technique or "cire perdue". Goldweights were created for economic transactions involving gold. Although it is not clear when the convention of weights were first introduced, scholars suggest that the Akan first traded gold with Muslim merchants from the West African interior, long before European contact. Their weight system corresponds to the Islamic weight system of North Africa, and appear to be part of early sub-Saharan trade. The gold weights served

372-447: A multitude of roles in Akan culture and everyday life. Akan goldweights are not only used as counterbalances on the scales used in gold trade, but also serve as visual representations of oral tradition, representations of proverbs, and as pictographic script in the social and political system as well as in the system of communal knowledge of the Akan people. Goldweights were used in everyday trade and commerce, as well as in accounting, as

434-713: A pond that is fed by Yantacaw Brook and that in turn feeds into the Third River on its way towards the Passaic River . The township has 18 public tennis courts, four skating rinks (two of which are indoor), and three public swimming pools: the Mountainside pool, the Nishuane pool, and the Essex pool. In 2007, township residents advocated for the construction of a public skatepark. Community members revitalized

496-457: A purely aesthetic one. Akan Chief’s stools are highly revered symbols of authority in Akan society. [1] These stools often display elaborate metal decorations such as geometric patterns or animal iconography. The stools represent a chief's personal identity in relation to their role as leaders, making them a crucial signifier of the individual's power. The stools garner significance as they are only granted to chiefs regarded as loyal commanders to

558-427: A ribbon-cutting ceremony to officially recognize this space as a temporary skatepark. The township's playground insurance covers skateboarding, allowing it to allocate funds to the park. The township has paid for signage using its playground fund. All skating equipment (ramps, rails, etc.) at Rand Park has been provided by community members with no financial support from the township. Montclair has one local newspaper,

620-584: A sankofa symbol. The site is now a national monument, known as the African Burial Ground National Monument , administered by the National Park Service . A copy of the design found on the coffin lid is prominently carved onto a large black granite memorial at the center of the site. The National Museum of African American History and Culture uses the heart-shaped symbol on its website. The "mouse over" for

682-594: A spiritual dimension and hold it as sacred, so it is a primary medium for ritual objects and royal ornamentation. Typically, only rulers and the social elite would wear gold or use gold objects. However, such gold regalia are not considered personal objects, but are collectively owned and controlled by the Stool (the seat of power). One of the most common pieces of Akan art are the Akan goldweights . The gold weights were made of copper , bronze , and brass . They were cast using

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744-544: A type of fraction or counter. According to the Akan scholar Nitecki, Akan gold weights were "created and used like spoken language to commemorate social or historical events or entities, to express philosophical or religious views, aspirations, and dreams, or simply to ask questions, or to express displeasure". The symbolism found in these gold weights references specific local proverbs or fables which would be understood by contemporaries of this context. There are four major categories of goldweights, based on what subject matter

806-492: Is 90; the area has an average of 202 sunny days. Montclair is one or two degrees warmer than the neighboring municipalities of Verona and Cedar Grove because of the mountain between them, which sometimes blocks winds and clouds, including warmer air from the ocean to the east. The township has long celebrated its diversity, a feature that has attracted many to the community. The African American population has been stable at around 30% for decades, although it fell from 32% in

868-706: Is also located there. Since July 1, 1988, Montclair has been governed under the Council-Manager Plan 13 form of municipal government under the Faulkner Act , whose originator, Bayard H. Faulkner , was a former mayor of Montclair. The township is one of 42 municipalities (of the 564) statewide that use this form of government. The governing body is comprised of the Mayor and the Township Council, who are elected to concurrent four-year terms on

930-404: Is depicted. The first kind of gold weights depict people. The second consist of the local flora and fauna. The third category are likened to man-made objects. The final category are abstract and open for interpretation. Akan linguist staffs are among the gold, art objects that serve as functional tools in Akan societal traditions. Staffs are typically works of carved wood and gold leaf which aid in

992-622: Is on the east side of the First Mountain of the Watchung Mountains . Some higher locations in the township provide excellent views of the surrounding area and of the New York City skyline about 12 miles (19 km) away. Named localities in the township include Church Street, Frog Hollow, South End, Upper Montclair , and Watchung Plaza. Montclair is split between two ZIP Codes . The central and southern parts of

1054-455: Is the border between those two counties. Montclair has a temperate climate, with warm-to-hot, humid summers and cool-to-cold winters, as is characteristic of the Köppen climate classification humid continental climate. January tends to be the coldest month, with average high temperatures in the upper 30s Fahrenheit and lows averaging 21. July, the warmest month, features high temperatures in

1116-662: The 2000 census to 27% in 2010. Montclair has attracted many New Yorkers. Many residents work for major media organizations in New York City, including The New York Times and Newsweek . A March 11, 2007, posting in the blog Gawker.com listed some of those who work in the media and live in Montclair. Many residents are commuters to New York City and the Metro Area. The 2010 United States census counted 37,669 people, 15,089 households, and 9,446 families in

1178-643: The 60th-most-populous municipality in New Jersey . Montclair was initially formed as a township on April 15, 1868, from portions of Bloomfield Township , so that a second railroad could be built to Montclair. After a referendum held on February 21, 1894, Montclair was reincorporated as a town , effective February 24, 1894. It derives its name from the French mont clair , meaning "clear mountain" or "bright mountain." In 1980, after multiple protests filed by Montclair officials regarding inequities built into

1240-601: The Lincoln Tunnel under the Hudson River , the Whole Theatre productions were readily available to New York City and New Jersey audiences. In the two decades in which Whole Theatre flourished, they presented a long list of performances in a wide variety of genres. Productions included The Rose Tattoo , Mother Courage , Rabelais: a Dramatic Game (1985), and America at Full Moon (1986). They enjoyed

1302-672: The Montclair Local . In addition, there is a radio station at 90.3 FM on the campus of Montclair State University , WMSC . The township has a municipal public service television channel, Channel 34, where township council and school board meetings are broadcast. Montclair High School has its own paper the Mountaineer , and Montclair State University has its own student-run paper, the Montclarion . WNJN , one of four stations of state-wide PBS member station NJTV ,

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1364-455: The New York metropolitan area . The township is the home of Montclair State University , the state's second-largest university. As of the 2020 United States census , the township's population was 40,921, an increase of 3,252 (+8.6%) from the 2010 census count of 37,669, which in turn reflected a decline of 1,308 (−3.4%) from the 38,977 counted in the 2000 census . As of 2010, it was

1426-616: The Presby Memorial Iris Gardens , a 6.5-acre (2.6 ha) living museum donated by the family of Frank Presby that is maintained by volunteers and dedicated to the iris . Covering nearly 20 acres (8.1 ha) of wetlands and uplands along the Third River , the Alonzo F. Bonsal Wildlife Preserve offers hiking trails and other passive recreation. Yantacaw Brook Park , covering 11.5 acres (4.7 ha), surrounds

1488-469: The Presby Memorial Iris Gardens , and many school-owned sports fields, viz., Montclair State University 's Sprague Field . In total Montclair has 153.9 acres (0.623 km ) of township park land spread over 18 parks and 123.8 acres (0.501 km ) of county park land consisting of five parks. Municipal parks include Mountainside Park, the township's largest at 33.2 acres (13.4 ha), which offers extensive tennis and recreation facilities, and includes

1550-667: The Second River , and the others flow into the Third River . Montclair lies just north of the northernmost extent of the Rahway River watershed. Montclair borders the municipalities of Bloomfield , Cedar Grove , Glen Ridge , Orange , Verona , and West Orange in Essex County; and Clifton and Little Falls in Passaic County . The southern border of Montclair is a straight line between Eagle Rock, on

1612-513: The 1948 biographical novel Cheaper by the Dozen , the principal characters Frank Bunker Gilbreth Sr. and Lillian Moller Gilbreth live in Montclair, as the authors did in real life. Some scenes of the film "Seven Minutes in Heaven" (1986) were filmed in and around Montclair High School . The 1989 film Bloodhounds of Broadway , which starred Madonna , Matt Dillon , and Jennifer Grey ,

1674-403: The 1993 film Sankofa by Haile Gerima , as well as in the graphic title of the film 500 Years Later by Owen 'Alik Shahadah. A UK stage production by Adzido Pan-African Dance Ensemble, scripted by Margaret Busby and premiered in 1999, was entitled Sankofa . The African-American string band Sankofa Strings , founded in 2005 by Sule Greg C. Wilson, Rhiannon Giddens , and Dom Flemons ,

1736-410: The Akan for their sophisticated gold-working traditions, technical proficiency in casting metal and perfection of the lost wax casting process. Akan culture considers gold a sacred material, so the artwork and jewelry made of gold reflects a great deal of value, whether it be made for political display, artistic expression, or more practical trading purposes. Craftspeople believe the material to have

1798-613: The BBC Television show Taboo . It was carved into the floor of a slave ship by James Keziah Delaney and appears as a tattoo on his upper back and as a drawing within the fireplace of his mother’s old room. The protagonist in Remote Control by Nnedi Okorafor goes by the name Sankofa. On 14 December 2023, a committee of the City of Toronto, Canada unanimously selected the name “Sankofa Square” for Yonge-Dundas Square, in

1860-682: The Claridge Cinema on Bloomfield Avenue which shows different types of movies from documentaries to small-scale indie films. The township hosted its first annual film festival in 2012 to provide a platform for filmmakers from New Jersey, the US, and the world. Live theaters include The Montclair Operetta Company, the Wellmont Theater , Montclair State University 's Kasser Theater, Montclair State University's theater in Life Hall, and

1922-735: The Fourth Ward. Montclair is split between the 10th and 11th Congressional Districts and is part of New Jersey's 27th state legislative district. Prior to the 2010 Census, Montclair had been part of the 8th Congressional District and the 10th Congressional District, a change made by the New Jersey Redistricting Commission that took effect in January 2013, based on the results of the November 2012 general elections. The split that took effect in 2013 drew

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1984-841: The Mayor has no executive powers, the mayor presides over council meetings and has both a voice and vote in its proceedings. The Mayor appoints members to many local governing groups, most notably the board of education. As of 2023 , the Mayor of Montclair is Sean M. Spiller. Members of the Montclair Township Council are Deputy Mayor William L. Hurlock (First Ward), Lori Price Abrams (Third Ward), David Cummings (Fourth Ward), Robert J. Russo (at-large), Robin Schlager (Second Ward) and Peter Yacobellis (at-large), all of whom serve terms of office scheduled to end on June 30, 2024. In elections held on May 12, 2020, Sean M. Spiller

2046-567: The South End community, serving delicious coffees , teas, and small bites. In addition, the cafe serves as a performance space hosting local artists and authors. Akan art Akan art is an art form that originated among the Akan people of Southern Ghana. Akan art is known for vibrant artistic traditions, including textiles , sculpture, Akan goldweights , as well as gold and silver jewelry . The Akan people are known for their strong connection between visual and verbal expressions and

2108-683: The Studio Playhouse. On Bloomfield Avenue, there is a public stage used for concerts and other events. Dotted around Montclair there are also many art galleries, though most are centered in the Bloomfield Avenue Downtown Area. Concerts are held at the Wellmont Theater and at several churches and auditoriums sponsored by Outpost in the Burbs, a community-based organization. In 2017, The Montclair Orchestra

2170-505: The actors Louis Zorich and his wife, the later Oscar-winning actress, Olympia Dukakis , founded a theatre group that included Remi Barclay , Jason Bosseau, Margery Fierst, Gerald Fierst, and many others. Some of the acting artistic and administrative participants were permanent, and semi-permanent. Performances were peppered with visits and occasional celebrity artists. Naming themselves Whole Theatre, they based themselves in Montclair. Located 12 miles (19 km) from Midtown Manhattan via

2232-542: The border with Glen Ridge. Small areas in the southeast of the township fall into the Glen Ridge ZIP code 07028. Several streams flow eastward through Montclair: Toney's Brook in the center, Nishuane Brook in the southeast, Wigwam Brook in the southwest, Pearl Brook in the northwest, and Yantacaw Brook in the northeast—all in the Passaic River watershed. Yantacaw and Toney's brooks are dammed in parks to create ponds. Wigwam, Nishuane, and Toney's brooks flow into

2294-511: The effort in 2010 and lobbied the Parks and Recreation Committee for support. The township council passed a resolution expressing approval of the project but allocated no funds for it. In the spring of 2020, an impromptu skatepark was created by community members on two of the unused tennis courts at Rand Park on North Fullerton Avenue during the COVID-19 pandemic. In July 2020, the township held

2356-400: The federal revenue-sharing system, Montclair passed a referendum changing its name to the "Township of Montclair," becoming the third of more than a dozen Essex County municipalities to reclassify themselves as townships to take advantage of federal revenue sharing policies that allocated townships a greater share of government aid to municipalities on a per capita basis. Before cannabis

2418-494: The generative power associated with gold in Akan society, some women would wear precious gold beads around their waist to enhance fertility. Montclair, New Jersey Montclair is a township in Essex County in the U.S. state of New Jersey . Situated on the cliffs of the Watchung Mountains , Montclair is a commercial and cultural hub of North Jersey and a diverse bedroom community of New York City within

2480-641: The image reads: "The Sankofa represents the importance of learning from the past." Sankofa symbols show themselves all over cities like Washington, DC and New Orleans , particularly in fence designs. Janet Jackson has a sankofa tattoo on her inner right wrist. The symbol is also featured in her 1997 album The Velvet Rope , as well as on the supporting tour. Sankofa is an event used by Saint Louis University to honor African-American student graduates and students who graduate with degrees in African American studies. The symbol and name were used in

2542-417: The king. The stools of favored chiefs are blackened with smoke in a ritual upon the chief's passing and stored in a special room. The golden stool of the king is the most revered. Jewelry takes a variety of forms in Akan culture. The Akan people create neck-wear, wrist bands, elbow-wear, knee-wear, and ankle-wear. Gender-specific jewelry includes hat pins and headbands for men and earrings and hairpins for

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2604-426: The largest collection of materials in northern New Jersey. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, the Montclair city council cut library funding to the minimum levels required by New Jersey law. The library's director resigned following a forensic audit, in which no irregularities were found. Montclair is home to many parks and nature reserves. Parks in Montclair are both county and municipal. Additional open space includes

2666-570: The mid-80s and lows in the 70s, with an average high of 86 degrees. From April to June and from September to early November, Montclair experiences temperatures from the lower 60s to the lower 70s. Montclair gets approximately 50 inches (1,300 mm) of rain per year, above the United States average of 39 inches (990 mm). Snowfall is common from December to early March and totals about 30 inches (76 cm) annually. The number of days each year in Montclair with any measurable precipitation

2728-432: The population were under the age of 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 26.7% from 25 to 44, 30.3% from 45 to 64, and 11.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39.9 years. For every 100 females, the population had 87.2 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 82.2 males. The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income

2790-419: The population. Of the 15,089 households, 33.9% had children under the age of 18; 46.1% were married couples living together; 13.2% had a female householder with no husband present and 37.4% were non-families. Of all households, 30.9% were made up of individuals and 8.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 3.15. 25.5% of

2852-510: The press release, to right wrongs, confront anti-Black racism and build a more inclusive Toronto. This and other renamings will occur throughout 2024. Opening in Spring 2024, Sankofa Cafe of Montclair, New Jersey , incorporates the Sankofa bird symbol into their logo. It emphasizes the theme that it is, "not a taboo to go back and retrieve what you forgot". The cafe serves as a community hub for

2914-407: The process of communication between the government and citizens. The structure of the staff consists of the stick and a carved ornament at the top that represents one or more Akan proverbs . The staff is foremost an identifier of the political advisory role of the linguist, or okyeame . Because of the prominence of oral tradition in Akan culture, the okyeame is a highly respected role, serving as both

2976-494: The ridge of the First Watchung Mountain, and the point where Orange Road begins at the foot of Ridgewood Avenue. The eastern border is roughly a straight line between that point and a point just southwest of where Broad Street crosses the Third River. The western border runs roughly along the ridge of the First Watchung Mountain between Eagle Rock and the Essex County / Passaic County border. The northern border

3038-608: The same concept. One version of it is similar to the eastern symbol of a heart, and another is that of a bird with its head turned backwards to symbolically capture an egg depicted above its back. It symbolizes taking from the past what is good and bringing it into the present in order to make positive progress through the benevolent use of knowledge. Adinkra symbols are used by the Akan people to express proverbs and other philosophical ideas. The sankofa bird also appears on carved wooden Akan stools, in Akan goldweights , on some ruler's state umbrella or parasol ( ntuatire ) finials and on

3100-450: The southern section of the township (26,730 residents) into the 10th District, while the northern portion (11,299 residents) moved to the 11th District. For the 118th United States Congress , New Jersey's 10th congressional district is represented by LaMonica McIver ( D , Newark ). For the 118th United States Congress , New Jersey's 11th congressional district is represented by Mikie Sherrill ( D , Montclair ). New Jersey

3162-489: The staff finials of some court linguists. It functions to foster mutual respect and unity in tradition. During a building excavation in Lower Manhattan in 1991, a cemetery for free and enslaved Africans was discovered. Over 400 remains were identified, but one coffin in particular stood out. Nailed into its wooden lid were iron tacks, 51 of which formed an enigmatic, heart-shaped design that some have interpreted as

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3224-762: The support of the local community and the theatre community of New York and New Jersey generally. For example, in 1975–1976 the company acknowledged over 120 substantial donors in their program as well as funding from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts and the Rockefeller Brothers Fund . In 1989, Olympia Dukakis was named as the company's Artistic Director. Her two co-directors were Remi Barclay and Gerald Fierst, who were jointly responsible for Education and Outreach. In 2018 Brooke Lea Foster of The New York Times stated that it

3286-534: The township are designated 07042. Upper Montclair lies north of Watchung Avenue and has a separate ZIP code, 07043. Because the ZIP codes do not exactly match municipal boundaries, a few homes near the borders with neighboring towns fall into the ZIP codes for those communities. A few homes in some adjoining municipalities use one of the two ZIP codes assigned to Montclair, as does HackensackUMC Mountainside (07042, formerly known as Mountainside Hospital), whose campus straddles

3348-479: The township. The population density was 5,971.2 per square mile (2,305.5/km ). There were 15,911 housing units at an average density of 2,522.2 per square mile (973.8/km ). The racial makeup was 62.16% (23,416) White , 27.16% (10,230) Black or African American , 0.16% (59) Native American , 3.81% (1,434) Asian , 0.02% (9) Pacific Islander , 2.19% (826) from other races , and 4.50% (1,695) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.46% (2,810) of

3410-544: The women. Historically, wearing gold was an honor reserved for the rulers and social elite, but nowadays anyone with the means to acquire them may wear gold adornments. Such beliefs vary between different principalities in the region, some being more egalitarian than others. When dressed in State, chiefs and their entourages decorate themselves heavily with gold. Jewelry was not only used for decoration; some gold adornments held specific powers and could be worn for protection. Due to

3472-469: Was $ 95,696 (with a margin of error of +/− $ 5,396) and the median family income was $ 126,983 (+/− $ 8,950). Males had a median income of $ 83,589 (+/− $ 5,955) versus $ 66,063 (+/− $ 3,616) for females. The per capita income for the township was $ 53,572 (+/− $ 2,671). About 4.6% of families and 2.7% of the population were below the poverty line , including 7.0% of those under age 18 and 4.6% of those age 65 or over. Montclair has six distinct commercial zones: In

3534-645: Was elected as mayor, defeating Renée Baskerville. Peter Yacobellis and incumbent Robert Russo won the two at-large seats, defeating the three other candidates—James Cotter, Carmel Loughman, and Roger Terry. Incumbent Robin Schlager won the Second Ward, defeating Christina M. Thomas; Lori Price Abrams defeated Marguerite Joralemon in the Third Ward; incumbent Bill Hurlock won the First Ward seat, defeating John Hearn; and David Cummings, who ran unopposed, won in

3596-582: Was featured in the 2007 jug band documentary Chasin' Gus' Ghost . The band self-released the CD Colored Aristocracy in 2006. A second iteration of the band Sankofa, with Wilson and Flemons, as well as Ndidi Onukwulu and Allison Russell, released the CD The Uptown Strut in 2012. Cassandra Wilson recorded the song "Sankofa", which appeared on her 1993 album Blue Light 'til Dawn . A Sankofa bird appears several times in

3658-450: Was formed as a semi-professional orchestra, with professional musicians and students from top colleges. Montclair was the setting for some of the stories in the HBO television series The Sopranos , and many Montclair streets, locations, and businesses were featured in the show, such as Bloomfield Avenue. Montclair Public Library is one of the oldest public libraries in New Jersey, with

3720-604: Was legalized for sale for both medical and recreational use in 2022, the state's first marijuana dispensary opened in Montclair in December 2012, joining Bellmawr , Cranbury , Egg Harbor Township , and Woodbridge Township as one of the five municipalities that had authorized the sale of medical cannabis . According to the U.S. Census Bureau , the township had a total area of 6.25 square miles (16.17 km ), including 6.24 square miles (16.16 km ) of land and 0.01 square miles (0.02 km ) of water (0.11%). Montclair

3782-483: Was one of several "least suburban of suburbs, each one celebrated by buyers there for its culture and hip factor, as much as the housing stock and sophisticated post-city life." Montclair hosts many art institutions and theaters, and despite its relatively small size, has many art venues. It has its own art museum, the Montclair Art Museum , and several small galleries. Montclair also hosts one cinema,

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3844-481: Was partially filmed in Montclair. Herman Hupfeld , composer of the song " As Time Goes By ", was born, lived, and was buried in Montclair. The song was voted No. 2 on the AFI's 100 Years...100 Songs special, commemorating the best songs in film. The indie rock band Pinegrove is from Montclair. In 2023, it released Montclair: Live at the Wellmont Theater , a film recording a 2021 performance in Montclair. In 1971,

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