Historic Black community in Cape May County fights to preserve identity

Residents form preservation project to combat gentrification and put Whitesboro back on the map

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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Residents of Whitesboro, a historic Black community in Cape May County, New Jersey, have formed a preservation project to combat gentrification and ensure the town's legacy is not erased. Longtime residents have discovered discrepancies in property records, with some homes listed under multiple addresses, raising concerns about the ability to pass down property to future generations. The community is also fighting against land sales and new construction that they say is displacing Black residents. Led by Vera Green, the Whitesboro Historic Preservation Project aims to have the town added back to the county's tourism map and potentially become its own incorporated municipality to self-govern.

Why it matters

Whitesboro was founded in 1901 as a self-reliant, safe community for Black families after a campaign to remove them from nearby Cape May City. As one of 155 historic Black settlements in South Jersey, Whitesboro represents an important part of the region's history that is now under threat from gentrification and development pressures. The community's fight to preserve its identity and legacy is crucial to maintaining the diversity and cultural heritage of the area.

The details

Residents like Vera Green and Dawn Robinson have uncovered issues with property records in Whitesboro, with some homes listed under multiple addresses and deeds that do not accurately reflect lot and block numbers. This is causing confusion and concerns about the ability to pass down property to future generations. Meanwhile, an influx of new construction and frequent land sales in the town have led to fears of displacement of long-term Black residents. Green is leading the Whitesboro Historic Preservation Project to have the town added back to the county's tourism map and potentially become its own incorporated municipality to self-govern.

  • Whitesboro was founded in 1901 after a campaign to remove Black residents from nearby Cape May City.
  • The real estate boom in the mid-2000s brought increased development interest and gentrification pressures to Whitesboro.

The players

Vera Green

A Whitesboro resident leading the Whitesboro Historic Preservation Project to preserve the town's history and legacy.

Dawn Robinson

A 35-year resident of Whitesboro who is fighting to correct property record discrepancies and against attempts to take her property through eminent domain.

Bobby Harrison

A longtime Whitesboro resident who moved to the town because it reminded him of his childhood home in rural South Carolina.

Marcus Skill

The former editor of the Cape May Herald who campaigned for the removal of Black residents from Cape May City, leading to the founding of Whitesboro.

George H. White

A former Congressman who became a Philadelphia-based banker and intervened to establish Whitesboro as a self-reliant, safe community for Black families.

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What they’re saying

“If something happens to me today, my kids come up [with] this deed with this lot and block that don't exist. If that happens, my kids won't be able to inherit my property.”

— Vera Green (whyy.org)

“I worked hard to get that and they can just take it away just cause somebody rich wants it. They say there's no value. I'm like, 'Well, why do you want it if there's no value?' It's value to me. It's my legacy for my children to leave them something I worked hard all my life.”

— Dawn Robinson (whyy.org)

“Now we got these people interested in the town. Not only are they just building, they're overbuilding.”

— Vera Green (whyy.org)

What’s next

Green and other Whitesboro residents plan to continue their efforts to correct property record discrepancies and fight against further development that threatens to displace long-term Black residents. The Whitesboro Historic Preservation Project also aims to have the town added back to Cape May County's tourism map of historic attractions.

The takeaway

The fight to preserve Whitesboro's identity and legacy as a historic Black community in South Jersey highlights the broader challenges facing many such settlements across the region, as they grapple with gentrification, development pressures, and the erasure of their cultural heritage. The residents' determination to self-govern and control the town's future development serves as an inspiring example of grassroots efforts to combat displacement and maintain the diversity of local communities.