Harrowing Cross-Burning In Montclair Recalled In Student’s Essay

MONTCLAIR, NJ — The following news release comes courtesy of the Montclair History Center. Find out how to post announcements or events to your local Patch site.

Education is a critical component of the Montclair History Center’s mission—embodied in its local history programs for school children and adults and in its archives which are a center for local historical research. The namesake for the Montclair History Center’s annual scholarship, Hortense Ridley Tate, was a motivational figure at the Glenridge Avenue YWCA from 1921 and throughout the 20th century. (The Glenridge Avenue YWCA was an important and thriving organization which occupied the Crane House from 1920-1965, prior to the home being moved to Orange Road and converted to a museum.) As the Girl Reserve Secretary and leader of the Glenridge Avenue YWCA, Mrs. Tate inspired countless young women by creating a positive environment, fostering cultural pride, and encouraging African American women to pursue higher educational degrees. The Montclair History Center’s Crane House and Historic YWCA Museum shares stories of those important YWCA years, in the context of the history of the home, our township, and our country.

This year’s Hortense Tate Scholarship was awarded to Desiree Lawrence. Her essay recounts a 1925 cross burning outside the Lexington Avenue home of Montclair’s William E. Jackson. He was a local businessman and Columbia University graduate of mixed-race Black/Irish descent. The cross-burning was prompted by his marriage proposal to a white Bloomfield resident. Desiree relates the event to “hardships African Americans have faced all over this country.” She also cites steps leaders in Montclair’s Black community have taken to improve racial justice. Her essay concludes, “And now Montclair is home to a population of 10,000 African Americans who make up the beautifully diverse black diaspora. I am proud to be one of those people. It is important that we remember the story of William E. Jackson and use it as a reminder of how far we have come as a community. We must strive to continue to make progress towards social justice and equality.”

Click here to read her full essay: https://www.montclairhistory.org/new-blog/hortense-tate-scholarship-awarded-2023

Desiree is an American University-bound scholar who has also involved in many community service endeavors throughout her high school years. We think Mrs. Tate -- who inspired so many through her work at the Glenridge Avenue YWCA – would be proud of Desiree’s endeavors to share important stories from history and to improve the future.

There were many qualified applicants for the 2023 Hortense Tate Scholarship, with compelling essays that included genuine connections to Montclair history. The Montclair History Center wishes them all great success in their futures.

The Montclair History Center, formerly the Montclair Historical Society, is an independent nonprofit organization that has been dedicated to preserving, sharing, and educating others about Montclair’s history since 1965. For additional information, visit the website www.montclairhistory.org or contact the Montclair History Center at 973-744-1796 or mail@montclairhistory.org.

Don’t forget to visit the Patch Montclair Facebook page. Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com. Learn more about advertising on Patch here.