Lynching In America To Be Subject Of Workshop At Cumberland County College On May 9 

What is lynching? What were its root causes in American society? Why—a century after a violent summer of lynching in America in 1919—do such heinous acts remain part of our public consciousness and concern today?

This will be explored at a workshop, free and open to the public, on Thursday, May 9, from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m., at the George P. Luciano Conference & Events Center, Cumberland County College, 3322 College Drive, Vineland, NJ.

This workshop, entitled “Lynching in America—The Red Summer of 1919,” is presented by The South Jersey Holocaust Coalition, the New Jersey Commission on Holocaust Education, Jewish Federation of Cumberland, Gloucester & Salem Counties, and Cumberland County College.

It will be led by Robert Holden, a charter member of the South Jersey Holocaust Coalition Board and an educator for 40 years. He has taught about the Holocaust in schools for over 35 years.

The workshop will explore how lynching grew out of racial tensions throughout the United States in the late 19th century—the anger of whites over the number of freed blacks migrating to the North. A brief history and definition of lynching will be included, as well as why lynching flared up to violent proportions in 1919 

Holden’s commitment to Holocaust education began in 1982 at Ocean City (NJ) Intermediate School, when he designed a mini-course for his gifted/talent junior high school students. Visiting various concentration camps in Europe during a Holocaust Studies Tour in 1997 resulted in an increased determination to speak about the Holocaust. He was a member of a committee of New Jersey Educators to totally revise the state’s Secondary Holocaust Studies Curriculum. 

Upon retirement, he taught Holocaust Studies at the Trocki Hebrew Academy and supervised elementary student teachers through Rowan University. For his efforts in teaching about the Holocaust, he received the Honey and Maurice Axelrod Award, proceeds from which used in part to set up the Holocaust/Genocide Studies Collection at the Cape May Campus of Atlantic Community College. 

He is the co-author of two secondary curriculum guides that have been published by the New Jersey Holocaust Commission and is in the process of writing two other history-related books.

Educators, students, and the public are invited to attend and, for professionals, 3.0 Professional Development (PD) hours will be granted by the New Jersey Commission on Holocaust Education. 

To attend, please register no later than Friday, May 3 by going to www.HolocaustCoalition.com and, on the “Coming Events” page, clicking on “Register Here”—or by calling 302-265-3870. Educators desiring Professional Development credits should kindly provide their name, contact information, and school.

No registration fee or cost is required to attend this workshop, but donations of any size are greatly appreciated. A light snack will be available.

For more information on this and all South Jersey Holocaust Coalition events and activities, visit the Coalition’s website at www.HolocaustCoalition.com or their Facebook page at “South Jersey Holocaust Coalition.” You may also e-mail HolocaustCoalition@gmail.com or call 302-265-3870.