Author to discuss role of bay in freeing slaves
Vincent O. Leggett, an author and state Department of Natural Resources employee specializing in African-American maritime history, will discuss "The Chesapeake Bay: The Ultimate Freedom Trail" in a free program at 10 a.m. Monday at Arnold Senior Center, 44 Church Road.
Leggett will examine the role of black watermen in the Underground Railroad that helped slaves escape to freedom from the South, and contributions African-Americans have made in the maritime and seafood industries.
Leggett is the author of two books, "Blacks of the Chesapeake" and "The Chesapeake Bay Through Ebony Eyes." Another, "Chesapeake Underground: Charting a Course to Freedom," is to be published this year.
His talk was arranged through the speakers bureau of the Maryland Humanities Council, which provides scholarly speakers on humanities topics to nonprofit organizations without charge. For information on scheduling a speaker, contact Polly Weber at 410-771-8974.
