JACK CUDJO, Newark's Revolutionary Soldier and First Black Businessman

By Kofi Ayim

Jack Cudjo was captured in the Gold Coast (present day Ghana) and ended up in Newark, New Jersey in the 1st half of the 1700s. He then became an enslaved man of Benjamin Coe, a wealthy Newark, New Jersey businessman.
During the Revolutionary War, Cudjo substituted for his Master, and fought in some of the major wars.

After the War, he was given his freedom and an acre of land, in Newark, New Jersey. Thereafter, Cudjo insisted that his bona fide given names were Cudjo Bakwante (sometimes rendered as Banquante and variations thereof). He also said that he was the son of an African king. The name, Bakwante is associated with, and extant within the royalty of Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Area in the Eastern Region of Ghana.

Cudjo entered into the floral business. His garden might have been big and prominent because it was reflected as a landmark in some documents of some of the rich and famous citizens in and around his neighborhood. His business, no doubt thrived, and for that some Newark historians referred to him as "the first black businessman." Cudjo died and was buried in Newark on March 5, 1823.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 147507378X
• ISBN13: 9781475073782
• Release Date: March 2012
• Publisher: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
• Length: 162 Pages
• Weight: 0.50 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 6.0" x 9.0"