Vince Leggett in a red jacket at the Annapolis City Dock

Vince Leggett (Photo: Will Parson/Chesapeake Bay Program)

Speaker: Vince Leggett, Blacks of the Chesapeake Foundation

For over 200 years, Black men and women have kept the seafood and maritime industries alive on the Chesapeake Bay. Yet few history books have recognized their contributions. The Blacks of the Chesapeake Foundation, created by Vince Leggett, has amassed a rich collection of artifacts, oral histories and over 40,000 photos documenting their experiences. On July 20, Leggett will share some of their stories. He will highlight voices from two of his books, Blacks of the Chesapeake: An Integral Part of Maritime History and The Chesapeake Bay Through Ebony Eyes. Join us for a celebration of the Black men and women who transformed—and were transformed by—life on the water.

This webinar will be recorded! By signing up on Zoom, you’ll be able to join live and receive a link to the closed-captioned recording as soon as its ready. This event is part of the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center’s free evening lecture series.

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View full 2021 evening lecture lineup