The Maryland Pendulum, Spring 2021 Edition

The MARYLAND PENDULUM The Newsletter of the Maryland Commission on African American History and Culture SPRING 2021

Spring Into Action!

The Maryland Commission is Reflecting, Restoring, and Resetting!

The ability to remember is a beautiful blessing. In a moment, we can revisit places and recall people from times long gone. A moment of sorrow can be replaced with cheer by a simple trip down memory lane. Remembering times playing in the neighborhood with childhood friends can quickly turn a stressful moment into a time of joy and laughter. Memories are that way; they empower us in many ways, like memorials allowing us to reflect on and enjoy past times inspiring us to press on to higher heights.

Just as our memories are a vital part of living, so is preserving our African American history and culture. For 51 years, the MCAAHC has been committed to safeguarding our extensive history and rich culture. This commitment was enhanced with the establishment of the African American Heritage Preservation Program 11 years ago, extending our efforts to preserving buildings, communities, and historical sites. To date, with this one-million-dollar capital grant, we have awarded $11 million to over 125 preservation projects. A great success that encourages us to climb even higher.

In this edition of the Pendulum, you will find valuable information on the grant program and the Banneker-Douglass Museum, the state’s official museum on African American History and Culture. Also highlighted are a few past grant recipients and their dynamic projects and programs that further the understanding of the African American experience in Maryland. We hope that this will inspire you to seek ways to preserve and amplify the voices of those, past and present, in your communities.

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While celebrating our rich history and culture is essential, we must never forget our responsibility to preserve us as a people. This takes place when we each use the power of our voices to speak up.

MCAAHC is committed to that responsibility. In partnership with the Maryland Lynching Truth and Reconciliation Commission, we have issued a statewide call to action in a joint statement to address the long history of systemic racism in Maryland. On the heels of the guilty verdict of the police officer charged in the murder of George Floyd, I encourage you to read the statement at https://africanamerican.maryland.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2021/03/MCAAHC-MLTRC-Joint-St atement.pdf) and find creative ways to use your voice to help secure a more just society.

Peace and Blessings to You, Tamara E. Wilson, Chair MCAAHC

AFRICAN AMERICAN HERITAGE PRESERVATION PROGRAM The African American Heritage Preservation Project (AAHPP) is a capital grant program that preserves buildings, communities, and sites of historical and cultural importance to the African American experience in Maryland for the acquisition of land or buildings; or the construction or improvement of land or buildings. These grants offer assistance to organizations and private citizens in their sponsorship of projects involving the acquisition, construction, or improvement of sites related to African American heritage.

Grant awards range from a minimum of $10,000 to a maximum of $100,000. Eligible applicants include non-profit organizations and local jurisdictions. Business entities and individuals may also apply for program grants when seeking funds for a preservation or development project that serves a high public purpose. Eligible projects include acquisition, construction, capital improvement, and certain predevelopment costs for African American heritage properties. Program guidelines and grant applications may be obtained from the Maryland Historical Trust.

To apply to the AAHPP capital grant program, please visit https://mht.maryland.gov/grants_africanamerican.shtml. The grant deadline is July 1, 2021.

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Preserving Black Spaces and Places: Historic Sotterley Jeanne Pirtle, Director of Educational Programming and Partnerships at Historic Sotterley, Inc.

Historic Sotterley has benefited from the AAHPP grant program administered by the MCAAHC on several instances. The grant has been one of the pieces needed for Sotterley’s preservation and reinterpretation in transitioning its story from a white slaveholder interpretation to an inclusive narrative that highlighted the stories of all the people that lived, labored, and loved their families on this property despite impossible circumstances.

The enslaved story at Sotterley is the American Story, complicated, sometimes tragic, but always inspiring. Because of the AAHPP grant program, new generations will be able to remember, learn, honor, and celebrate past lives of Africans and African Americans in the very spaces and landscape where they once walked.

Preservation of these structures, spaces, and stories and those yet to be discovered is part of Historic Sotterley’s mission, and this grant program and the people and organizations that administer it are valued partners in this work.

In 2013, Sotterley was awarded a grant to cover the restoration of its corn crib, which probably dates to the mid to late 18th century, and would house a new exhibit telling the story of slavery at Sotterley and will include the voices of those who stayed on as tenant farmers and slave laborers into the 20th century. Last year Sotterley was awarded $78,000 to repair an 1830s slave cabin which was dedicated to Agnes Kane Callum, a Baltimore City resident whose great-grandfather was born enslaved at the historic home. The site will also make improvements on accessibility for the paths leading to the cabin.

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PRESERVATION IN ACTION: HISTORIC JONATHAN STREET

By Reggie Turner, MCAAHC Commissioner, Washington County

The Jonathan Street community in Hagerstown, MD is one of the oldest black communities in the state highlighted by the founding of the Bethel AME Ebenezer Church in 1820 which was incorporated four years after Richard Allen founded the AME Church. Jonathan Street was the home of the Moxley Band, the first all-black recruiting band for the U.S. Colored Troops and Jacob Wheaton who is believed to be the first African American to vote in Maryland.

During Reconstruction the Jonathan Street community grew into a lively place of commerce and entertainment. This former red-lined community was the Black Wall Street of Western Maryland hosting two green book sites, the Ship Tea Room and The Harmon Hotel owned by Walter Harmon, the wealthiest black man in Hagerstown at the turn of the 19th century.

Unfortunately, both sites as well as other historic sites have been demolished and this community has suffered from disinvestment from the municipal government over many years.

What began as Commissioner Reggie Turner advocating on behalf of the community to the City of Hagerstown to partner with the community to stop demolition of historic structures is blossoming into a total community revitalization project. Along with cataloging the remaining historic sites in the community, Commissioner Turner hosted Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development, Secretary Ken Holt and Preservation Maryland seeking to form a coalition to revitalize the entire Jonathan Street community, preserve its remaining

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historic structures and further explore its historical significance.

The partnership with Preservation Maryland has led to the discovery of possibly the oldest remaining structure in Hagerstown on land once owned by the founder of Hagerstown, Jonathan Hager and an archeological dig led by Maryland State Highway Chief Archeologist, Julie Schablitsky. Commissioner Turner was to interview her on The Flipside, the local TV show he hosts and there is so much more to come.

ART VISIONARIES: AN EYE ON MARYLAND'S ARTS COMMUNITY

By Chanel Compton, Executive Director, Banneker-Douglass Museum and the Maryland Commission on African American History and Culture

Rising artist Comacell Brown who goes by Cell Spitfire was born and raised in Annapolis, Maryland. In Annapolis, he is known as a talented artist, community organizer, and activist. His most recent series of paintings and designs were a part of the “Art of Activism'' exhibition at Maryland Hall for the creative art. The exhibit “Art of Activism” was a partnership between the Maryland Hall and the Banneker-Douglass Museum and Maryland Commission on African American History and Culture. The exhibit showcased Maryland-based Black artists, whose work encapsulates activism and social justice. In addition to the group exhibition, Comacell, with 5 other featured artists, each created 5 ft. x 9 ft tall Black Lives Matter banners, which hang on the front steps of Maryland Hall. The individual banners poetically amplify Black protest. In 2021, Comacell’s banner will be hung above the front entrance of the Banneker-Douglass Museum.

Today, we are in the largest civil rights demonstration in U.S. history. Everyday citizens are holding institutions, companies, state and local government accountable in the fight for racial equality and justice. From marching in Kentucky for justice for Breonna Taylor to using art to honor local hero and rap artist, Tre Da Kid, who was killed in 2019, Comacell aims to use his art and voice to make positive change for Black communities.

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Director Compton had the pleasure of interviewing Comacell Brown. Below is his interview.

You recently created a powerful banner entitled “It’s Still Black Lives Matter” that is now installed outside of the Banneker-Douglass Museum for public view. What do you want the banner to communicate or teach the viewer?

Even though it's a new year with a new president, Black Lives Matter is still a worthy cause. This cause still needs to be heard and action is still needed. On the banner you see older people and younger people; all generations of African Americans marching for justice. The mural depicts 5 notable people that were unjustly murdered; Breonna Taylor, Sandra Bland, George Floyd, Tamir Rice, and Mike Brown. I was even going to add Spiderman to the banner, the new version of the superhero who is a young Black man, but there were spatial constraints. I feel like in the Black Lives Matter movement we have to have superhero strength to make change and to accumulate that type of super power we need unity.

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Let’s talk about your origin story, every superhero has one; the journey of a regular person finding their super powers and abilities. What led you to find and hone your abilities as an artist?

Growing up without my parents I always wanted to find an outlet to express my frustrations. From going to the salvation army for an arts afterschool program to doing drawings in class with my classmates, is where I discovered my abilities as an artist. Finding these abilities made me feel great, like I was limitless.

What themes and topics do you explore in your work?

It’s mandatory that I use bold colors. The themes have to be empowering or some type of documentation of history. I feel like we get our stories in the newspaper or media which may not tell the full story of a person or event. But by documenting a history through art it gives a different perspective and platform.

For more information about Comacelle Brown’s (@Cellspitfire) work visit the following website: www.cellspitfire.com. To learn more about the Banneker-Douglass Museum visit: bdmuseum.maryland.gov

MEET THE COMMISSIONER: REGGIE TURNER Each issue of the Pendulum will highlight one of the members of the Maryland Commission on African American History and Culture.

Community service is a high priority for Commissioner Reggie Turner, who was appointed to the Maryland Commission on African American History and Culture (MCAAHC), by Governor Larry Hogan in 2017.

Commissioner Turner, who represents Washington County for the MCAAHC, is originally from Appomattox, VA but has been a longtime resident of Hagerstown, MD where he lives with his wife Stacie and three daughters, Emoni, Kayla and Sidney.

By day Turner is the Chairman of the Western Maryland Community Development Corporation (WMCDC) working with individuals and business owners, helping them navigate their wealth management and retirement planning concerns.

In addition, he is also the host of The Flipside, a weekly local TV show on Antietam Cable, Channel 30 that highlights national and local affairs. Turner also serves as a board member on the Washington County Historical Society, The Maryland Symphony Orchestra and the Meritus Healthcare Foundation.

In his spare time Commissioner Turner enjoys playing golf, planning unique vacations and cheering on the Washington Football Team and University of Virginia athletics.

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ARTICLE SUBMISSIONS The Pendulum is the official newsletter of the Maryland Commission on African American History and Culture and accepts submissions of articles for inclusion in the newsletter at the following email: mcaahc@gmail.com. Submissions should be original articles, exclusive to the Pendulum and offer an engaging and authoritative take on a historical or cultural subject related to African American History in Maryland. Articles can be submitted from scholars, the general public, and Commissioners. We are particularly interested in articles that feature the historic sites that have been supported by the AAHPP grant. The newsletter committee reserves the right to select which submissions are published and the right to edit those submissions.

The Newsletter Committee is comprised of the following MCAAHC Commissioners: Iris Leigh Barnes, PhD Maya Davis Lopez Matthews, Jr., PhD

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