Black in Bayonne Story by Daniel Israel Photo courtesy of Black in Bayonne lack in Bayonne was cofounded by Camille High, Clarice High, Shaniqua Borders, and Rashad Calloway. The four had been protesting elsewhere, but never in the city where they were born and raised. A conversation started during quarantine, when they were stuck at home, consumed by the pandemic of violence against black men and women, and the harsher impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on communities of color. Enter Power in the Park. A photoshoot by Shaniqua’s friend, Juanita Erwin, grew to include empowering speeches, voter registration, and a march from one part of Stephen Gregg Park to the other. “There’s no black culture in Bayonne, so this is the blackest thing that we could think of to bring all forms of protesting together,” Camille said. They kept the momentum going by forming Black in Bayonne. “We’re going to continue to do what we have to do to make this a better city, better country, better world,” Rashad said. Among other things, the group raised the Pan-African flag over City Hall on Juneteenth, held a candlelight vigil for Breonna Taylor, and met with officials to bridge the gap between the city and residents.
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Black in Bayonne raised the Pan-African Flag over City Hall on Juneteenth. From left to right: Rashad Calloway, Clarice High, Shaniqua Borders, and Camille High.
Young people lead the charge to bring black culture and black pride to the city they love 24 • BLP ~ FALL | WINTER 2020/21
CAMILLE AND CLARICE Camille and Clarice’s parents moved to Bayonne after they met at the Evangelical Gospel Tabernacle on West 27th Street.
