Collating equity in Southern Maryland

What began as a topic of conversation less than a decade ago, the Southern Maryland Equity in History Coalition has since expanded into a grand sum of 31 organizations working together to elevate the history of Black, Indigenous and other people of color across Southern Maryland.

Although the local history of Black and Indigenous people in the region is referenced in books, members and organizers of the coalition have sought to make it more accessible through a comprehensive and easily searchable website. Their mission is to promote the understanding of local history and humanize the stories of those who lived it.

"Initially this project began as the 'Big Conversation,'" Southern Maryland Equity in History Coalition spokesman Hugh Davies said following last month's lecture at the Calvert Marine Museum. "We want to make sure that everyone's history is included in our libraries and museums. Everyone in the coalition understands the importance of telling everyone's story."

In all, 31 organizations are listed as having participated in the coalition to date, including churches, colleges, museums, libraries, county agencies and public schools as well as the American Chestnut Land Trust and Southern Maryland National Heritage Area. Each of the three counties that comprise the region are represented in the coalition in one capacity or another.

"There is a lot of history in Southern Maryland that involves African Americans and Indigenous people, especially in St. Mary's County," Davies said. "We're trying to ensure that a lot of it is brought to light. The county libraries and the museums have been great sources of information and very adept at including those histories."

Davies and other members of the coalition who spoke at the Calvert Marine Museum and have subsequent lectures scheduled, including at St. Mary's College of Maryland in conjunction with Historic St. Mary's City on July 17 and next month at Piscataway Park on Aug. 2 in conjunction with the Accokeek Foundation.

A timeline that was initially established during a meeting of the coalition where participants were challenged to identify and describe events that should be included featured a modest list of 25 events. But that list has since more than doubled to 60, highlighting the efforts of African American, Indigenous people and other people of color across Southern Maryland.

The coalition was formed largely to connect and empower community-based organizations as well as educational and public institutions throughout Southern Maryland to elevate access to the collective and multi-perspective history of the region. Viewed as a start to collecting the history of Black, indigenous and other people of color, the website strives to tell an inclusive and honest telling of history.

A complete list of organizations that have taken part in the Southern Maryland Equity in History Coalition as well as ways to contribute, join and interact with the group can be found on their website at www.equityinhistory.org.