African Americans in Maryland facts for kids

African Americans have a long and important history in Maryland. Southern Maryland was home to Mathias de Sousa, the first person of African descent to be elected to a legislature in America in 1642. It was also the place where Josiah Henson was enslaved. His life story later inspired Harriet Beecher Stowe's famous book, "Uncle Tom's Cabin." Another important figure, Matthew Henson, also from Southern Maryland, was one of the first people to reach the North Pole in 1909. These stories show both the challenges and amazing strength of African Americans in Maryland.

Slavery in Maryland

Maryland did not start as a slave state. At first, people who came as indentured servants could become free after a certain time. Sadly, this changed. The first enslaved people arrived in Maryland by 1642. By 1694, people of African descent and their children could be enslaved throughout the colony.

Maryland's economy grew with crops like tobacco, which needed a lot of workers. By 1755, about 40% of Maryland's population was African American, and most were enslaved. After the American Revolutionary War, some slaveholders freed their enslaved people. This meant that by the time of the American Civil War, almost half of African Americans in Maryland were free. However, many enslaved families were still separated and sold to other states.

Maryland was an important part of the Underground Railroad. This secret network helped enslaved people escape to freedom in the North. Cities like Baltimore and Cambridge were key stops. Slavery officially ended in Maryland with a new state constitution in 1864. But even after slavery ended, African Americans did not have equal rights.

Notable Individuals

Mathias de Sousa

Mathias de Sousa was one of the first people of African descent to live in the Maryland colony. He arrived in 1634 on the ship Ark as an indentured servant. By 1638, he was a "freeman," meaning he was no longer a servant. Mathias became a sailor and fur trader. He was even elected to the legislative assembly in 1642. This makes Mathias de Sousa the first man of African descent to be part of a government assembly in America.

Josiah Henson

Josiah Henson was an author, an abolitionist (someone who worked to end slavery), and a minister. He was born into slavery in Maryland in 1789. He was sold three times before he was 18 years old. In 1830, he escaped to Canada. There, he started a community and a school for other formerly enslaved people. Josiah Henson's autobiography, "The Life of Josiah Henson," helped inspire Harriet Beecher Stowe to write her famous book, "Uncle Tom's Cabin."

Matthew Henson

Matthew Henson was an American explorer. He is famous for being one of the first people to reach the North Pole with Admiral Robert Edwin Peary in 1909. Matthew Henson was born in Maryland in 1866, a year after the Civil War ended. He was believed to be a great-grandnephew of Josiah Henson. Matthew Henson explored the Arctic with Admiral Peary for 20 years. On April 6, 1909, they made history by reaching the North Pole. Matthew Henson passed away in New York City in 1955.

Notable Locations

Historic Sotterley

Historic Sotterley is an old plantation that dates back to 1703. Today, it is a special place for learning about the complex history of the region. It helps people understand American history, including the legacy of slavery. Sotterley works to preserve its historic buildings and natural areas. It uses the stories of the land and the people who lived and worked there to teach visitors. Through projects like the Descendants Project, Historic Sotterley continues to be an important place to visit in Southern Maryland.

Biscoe Gray Heritage Farm

The Biscoe Gray Heritage Farm is a place with rich natural and cultural history. It's like a living classroom where you can learn about farming in Southern Maryland throughout history. This includes everything from Native American farming to colonial farms, 1800s agriculture, and even tobacco farming in the 20th century.

The farm also helps tell the story of African American history. The George E. Rice House and other buildings show what small-scale farming was like in the early to mid-1900s. They also highlight the role of African Americans as landowners and tenant farmers. Preserving these places helps us understand the heritage and culture of African Americans in the region.

Civil War to Civil Rights

The American Civil War (1861-1865) brought big changes for African Americans in Maryland. Even though Maryland was a border state, the war raised questions about slavery. Many enslaved people escaped during the war, seeking safety in places like Washington, D.C.. African Americans, both free and escaped, helped the Union Army by doing manual labor and building defenses.

After slavery ended, new laws called "Black Codes" and later "Jim Crow laws" were put in place. These laws limited the rights of African Americans and created segregation, meaning black and white people were kept separate in many parts of life.

African American children were required to attend schools by 1872, but these schools often did not have enough resources. In 1941, Maryland was ordered to pay black and white teachers equally. In 1955, schools in Maryland began to integrate, meaning black and white students could attend the same schools. This process continued until 1967.

African Americans faced unfair treatment and violence. Laws also made it illegal for white and black people to marry until 1967. Even after the 13th and 14th Amendments gave African Americans citizenship rights, segregation continued. This led to protests where many African Americans stood up for their rights. These protests helped bring about change and made racism less open.

Civil Rights Era

Inspired by student protests in other states, students from Morgan State College in Baltimore began their own "sit-ins" in 1960. They protested at segregated department store restaurants. In 1961, the Freedom Riders traveled through Maryland on their way to the Deep South to challenge segregation on buses.

The 1960s saw many rallies, marches, and protests in Maryland. Some of the largest and most intense events happened in 1968 after the death of Martin Luther King Jr. Important events included the Cambridge riot of 1963, the Cambridge riot of 1967, and the Baltimore riot of 1968. These actions helped push for civil rights and equality.

Notable African Americans of Maryland

• Freddy Adu
• Eubie Blake
• Benjamin Banneker
• Cab Calloway
• Lewis Charlton
• Harry A. Cole
• Harry S. Cummings
• Robert Curbeam
• Decatur Dorsey
• Father Divine
• Frederick Douglass
• Charles S. Dutton
• Crystal Bird Fauset
• Charity Folks
• William C. Goodridge
• Frances Harper
• Josiah Henson
• Matthew Henson
• Bryant Johnson
• Delano Johnson
• Joshua Johnson (painter)
• LaKisha Jones
• Mother Mary Lange
• Thurgood Marshall
• Clarence Mitchell Jr.
• Parren J. Mitchell
• John H. Murphy Sr.
• Pauli Murray
• Isaac Myers
• James W.C. Pennington
• Hasim Rahman
• Gloria Richardson
• Michael Steele
• Vivien Thomas
• Charles Albert Tindley
• Harriet Tubman
• Charles Uncles
• Verda Welcome
• Clifton Reginald Wharton Sr.

Images for kids

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  African American Schoolhouse Museum in Maryland

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  A diagram of a slave ship