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Annapolis -- In this city of maritime culture, politics and the Naval Academy, where history and tradition are practically embedded in the narrow cobblestone streets -- something new is afoot.
Literally. A unique series of walking tours that highlight African-American history promises a more culturally inclusive view of Maryland's capital city, and the region. It is what some experts term authentic history -- a full account, warts and all.
It means that people visiting, say, the Charles Carroll House, won't just learn about the lone Catholic signer of the Declaration of Independence. They will also hear about his slaves, and what recent archaeological digs reveal about them.
Even a stop at the State House may spark debate. One statue there honors Supreme Court Justice Roger Taney, whose infamous 1857 Dred Scott decision denied blacks citizenship; nearby is Thurgood Marshall, the first African-American to sit on the high court.
A glossy new brochure -- Guide to African-American Heritage in Annapolis & Anne Arundel County -- offers seven "heritage" itineraries, encompassing everything from urban living to sprawling plantations. The guide includes historic homes, museums, parks, memorials and research facilities, along with maps and trip planners.
Historians, tourism officials, state preservationists and community activists are among those behind the push. Many believe these expanded tours will have an economic benefit while finally validating information once relegated to the margins.
"African-Americans have been a part of this community for 350 years," says Janice Hayes-Williams, a local historian, who owns the tour company Legacy Promotions. "We were farmers, seamen, skilled workers, soldiers. ... Before the Civil War, Maryland had the country's largest community of free blacks. They built homes, schools, churches and businesses. They're fascinating stories."
Much of what is known has been culled from written records, surviving structures, cultural artifacts and the like.
A stroll through Annapolis reveals tales that run the gamut from slavery and religion to affairs of state. Museums honor such famous Marylanders as abolitionist and statesman Frederick Douglass.
Yet countless lesser-known men, women and children are represented, too -- a nod to Annapolis' population in the 1800s, then one-third African-American.
Explore "Little Harlem," a once-thriving entertainment district near Clay and Washington streets; Asbury United Methodist Church, the city's oldest black congregation; and the pioneering Stanton School, built in the 1800s.
Not only are local and state history illuminated, but the walks through time also powerfully chronicle the evolution of America itself.
Around the late 1660s, thousands of enslaved Africans were brought to Annapolis and the county. In 1783, as the Founding Fathers convened at the State House for the Continental Congress, the slave trade flourished at nearby City Dock.
It is believed that Kunta Kinte arrived in 1767 aboard the Lord Ligonier, a story told in descendant Alex Haley's epic novel and 1970s miniseries, Roots.
Today, a bronze statue of Haley, a story wall and a 14-foot granite compass form a memorial at the site on Market Street. One million visitors come through every year; before his death in 1992, Haley walked these streets.
Next month, marks the 16th annual Kunta Kinte Heritage Festival, which celebrates Haley's famous ancestor and runs Aug. 10-11 at the Anne Arundel County Fairgrounds (see accompanying story).
Last year's event drew more than 20,000 people -- hailing from across the country and representing a wide spectrum of the African Diaspora.
"It grows and grows," says Leonard Blackshear, original chairman of the festival and founder of the Kunta Kinte-Alex Haley Foundation.
He believes such activities will someday bring the region widespread prominence for its African-American history.
Literally. A unique series of walking tours that highlight African-American history promises a more culturally inclusive view of Maryland's capital city, and the region. It is what some experts term authentic history -- a full account, warts and all.
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Even a stop at the State House may spark debate. One statue there honors Supreme Court Justice Roger Taney, whose infamous 1857 Dred Scott decision denied blacks citizenship; nearby is Thurgood Marshall, the first African-American to sit on the high court.
A glossy new brochure -- Guide to African-American Heritage in Annapolis & Anne Arundel County -- offers seven "heritage" itineraries, encompassing everything from urban living to sprawling plantations. The guide includes historic homes, museums, parks, memorials and research facilities, along with maps and trip planners.
Historians, tourism officials, state preservationists and community activists are among those behind the push. Many believe these expanded tours will have an economic benefit while finally validating information once relegated to the margins.
"African-Americans have been a part of this community for 350 years," says Janice Hayes-Williams, a local historian, who owns the tour company Legacy Promotions. "We were farmers, seamen, skilled workers, soldiers. ... Before the Civil War, Maryland had the country's largest community of free blacks. They built homes, schools, churches and businesses. They're fascinating stories."
Much of what is known has been culled from written records, surviving structures, cultural artifacts and the like.
A stroll through Annapolis reveals tales that run the gamut from slavery and religion to affairs of state. Museums honor such famous Marylanders as abolitionist and statesman Frederick Douglass.
Yet countless lesser-known men, women and children are represented, too -- a nod to Annapolis' population in the 1800s, then one-third African-American.
Explore "Little Harlem," a once-thriving entertainment district near Clay and Washington streets; Asbury United Methodist Church, the city's oldest black congregation; and the pioneering Stanton School, built in the 1800s.
Not only are local and state history illuminated, but the walks through time also powerfully chronicle the evolution of America itself.
Around the late 1660s, thousands of enslaved Africans were brought to Annapolis and the county. In 1783, as the Founding Fathers convened at the State House for the Continental Congress, the slave trade flourished at nearby City Dock.
It is believed that Kunta Kinte arrived in 1767 aboard the Lord Ligonier, a story told in descendant Alex Haley's epic novel and 1970s miniseries, Roots.
Today, a bronze statue of Haley, a story wall and a 14-foot granite compass form a memorial at the site on Market Street. One million visitors come through every year; before his death in 1992, Haley walked these streets.
Next month, marks the 16th annual Kunta Kinte Heritage Festival, which celebrates Haley's famous ancestor and runs Aug. 10-11 at the Anne Arundel County Fairgrounds (see accompanying story).
Last year's event drew more than 20,000 people -- hailing from across the country and representing a wide spectrum of the African Diaspora.
"It grows and grows," says Leonard Blackshear, original chairman of the festival and founder of the Kunta Kinte-Alex Haley Foundation.
He believes such activities will someday bring the region widespread prominence for its African-American history.
