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Dorchester County Road Trip

October 11, 2008

The C.V. Starr Center for the Study of the American Experience's Fall 2008 road trip crisscrossed Dorchester County, Maryland, retracing two generations of civil rights struggles on the Eastern Shore. Moving from the marshes and forests through which Harriet Tubman, the famed "Moses of her people," conducted fugitive slaves to the once-contested city blocks of downtown Cambridge, where local residents launched the first significant mid-century grassroots civil rights protest outside the Deep South in 1962, the group explored some of the most important unmarked spots in American history.

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Local historians John Creighton and Pat Lewis led the group deep into the woods to the probable site of Tubman's birth.
Local historians John Creighton and Pat Lewis led the group deep into the woods to the probable site of Tubman's birth.
In the 1830s, Tubman's father, Ben Ross, made his home along this road. It was likely a gathering place for members of the extended Ross family.
In the 1830s, Tubman's father, Ben Ross, made his home along this road. It was likely a gathering place for members of the extended Ross family.
(L to R) Preston Hildebrand '12, Chuck Weisenberger '12, Chris Brown '12, Alice Horner '11, Colleen McCallister '12, Tokikake Iii '12, and Allie Borden '10.
(L to R) Preston Hildebrand '12, Chuck Weisenberger '12, Chris Brown '12, Alice Horner '11, Colleen McCallister '12, Tokikake Iii '12, and Allie Borden '10.
The group follows guide Bill Jarmon down Race Street, site of many of the most famous battles of the Cambridge movement.
The group follows guide Bill Jarmon down Race Street, site of many of the most famous battles of the Cambridge movement.
Preston Hildebrand '12, Chris Brown '12, Allie Borden '10, and Tokikake Ii '12 listen as Cambridge native Bill Jarmon shares his experience desegregating the theater across the street in 1963.
Preston Hildebrand '12, Chris Brown '12, Allie Borden '10, and Tokikake Ii '12 listen as Cambridge native Bill Jarmon shares his experience desegregating the theater across the street in 1963.
Standing in the heart of the historically black Second Ward, Bethel AME Church served as one of the spiritual centers of the movement.
Standing in the heart of the historically black Second Ward, Bethel AME Church served as one of the spiritual centers of the movement.
The group poses in Bethel's choir loft: (L to R) Chuck Weisenberger, Alice Horner, Colleen McCallister, Chris Brown, Preston Hildebrand, Tokikake Iii, Starr Center associate director Jill Ogline, and Allie Borden.
The group poses in Bethel's choir loft: (L to R) Chuck Weisenberger, Alice Horner, Colleen McCallister, Chris Brown, Preston Hildebrand, Tokikake Iii, Starr Center associate director Jill Ogline, and Allie Borden.
Members of the group examine the historic marker outside Stanley Institute, the oldest one-room schoolhouse in Dorchester County, which educated black students up to 1962.
Members of the group examine the historic marker outside Stanley Institute, the oldest one-room schoolhouse in Dorchester County, which educated black students up to 1962.
Herschel Johnson describes a typical school day at Stanley Institute.
Herschel Johnson describes a typical school day at Stanley Institute.
Tokikake Iii and Chris Brown get a feel for life in a one-room schoolhouse through squeezing into the older students' desks.
Tokikake Iii and Chris Brown get a feel for life in a one-room schoolhouse through squeezing into the older students' desks.

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