Miles Dean, a 52-year-old social studies teacher in Newark, is on a half-year, 6,000-mile horseback journey from New York to California. His goal: To heighten awareness of black cowboys and other African-Americans who helped forge American history.

"The journey is a journey of celebration of the achievements of our African-American ancestors in the exploration, expansion and settlement of the United States," Dean said.

Dean, who calls himself "a modern African-American pioneer," started at the African-American Burial Ground in Lower Manhattan on Saturday, Sept. 22, and he made subsequent stops in New Jersey. Dean traveled through Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington, D.C. - stopping at several college campuses along the way - before he disappeared for two weeks into the valleys of West Virginia. Now, he's re-emerged with cell phone service, and is on his way to Charleston, W.Va., and then to Kentucky.

As Dean travels, he's calling The Star-Ledger along the way to report on his trip. With his help, we'll keep you posted on his progress.