Black History Things to Do: Maryland Slave Quarters Story
Things to Do for Black History Month
Exploring Black History in Maryland
There is so much living black history in Maryland, and here is another Black History Thing to Do in Maryland. From Towson to Cambridge, that several places to explore. Here are three great places to start learning and teaching your kids about Black History:
- The Hampton Slave Quarters in Toswon
- The Harriet Tubman Museum in Cambridge
- Benjamin Banneker’s Estate in Catonsville
8 Maryland Black History Facts
Maryland had played a vital role in our countries Black History. From birthing some of our well-known leaders in history to being the place of many first. Here are 8 Maryland Black history facts you need to know about:
- Maryland was home to many Underground Railroad stations. Including Harriet Tubman’s birthplace and former plantation in Dorchester County.
- In 1864, Maryland became the first state south of the Mason-Dixon Line to abolish slavery.
- Thurgood Marshall, who grew up in Baltimore. He the first African American justice on the United States Supreme Court in 1967.
- Frederick Douglass, who was born into slavery on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. He became a leading abolitionist and advocate for civil rights.
- In 1954, Baltimore native and civil rights lawyer Juanita Jackson Mitchell became the first African American woman to practice law in Maryland.
- Gloria Richardson, a civil rights leader from Cambridge, Maryland, was a key figure in the Cambridge Movement. This was used nonviolent protest and direct action to challenge segregation.
- Jazz pianist and composer Eubie Blake was born in Baltimore. He went on to become a prominent figure in the early jazz scene.
- Maryland was the birthplace of many other notable Black figures. Including Harriet Jacobs, Benjamin Banneker, and Matthew Henson.
Let’s explore the start of Black History in Maryland by exploring the Hampton Slave Quarters. This Baltimore slave estate is the largest in Maryland that once held over 300 slaves.
About the Hampton Slaves Quarters in Baltimore
The Hampton National Historic Site located in Towson, Maryland. The Ridgely family operates and preserves a historic plantation and has for several generations. This is the largest slave plantation estate in the United States, encompassing over 25,000 acres.
According to the Hampton National Historic Site, slaves represented the majority of the slaves came from Britain slave ships or by convictions. Those individuals made built the families wealth by working in the ironworks.
The Hampton Slaves Quarters housed enslaved people from the early 19th century until the Civil War. The quarters, among the best-preserved slave quarters in the country, offer a rare glimpse into the lives of enslaved people.
The quarters consist of three brick buildings that could accommodate up to 90 enslaved people. The buildings form a U-shape, surrounding a central yard that the enslaved people used for cooking, washing, and other daily activities. The quarters likely contained smaller rooms that several people shared.
Today, the Hampton Slaves Quarters are open to the public as part of the Hampton National Historic Site. Visitors can take guided tours of the quarters and learn about the daily lives of the enslaved people who lived there. The site also provides educational programs and resources on the history of slavery and its impact on American society.
Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad
Stay tuned as we explore Harriet Tubman’s journey and the Underground Railroad next for her anniversary.
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