The Legacy of Legacy Day

Bill Leary • August 1, 2023


On the evening of August 16, 2014, nearly 1,500 partygoers gathered in Chestertown to inaugurate Legacy Day.

 

They cheered the floats, classic cars, and community groups that paraded on High Street; danced to the music of Quiet Fire (including Kent County native Jasper Hackett) and the recorded oldies played by DJ Stansbury; savored the soul food offered by vendors; and caught up with old friends.

 

They also came to honor entrepreneur and civic leader Charlie Graves, whose Uptown Club had showcased such giants of jazz and rhythm and blues as Louis Armstrong, Otis Redding, Ray Charles, Fats Domino, and Sam Cooke. Several attendees commented that Legacy Day 2014 was the most diverse gathering they could remember in Kent County. Then-Mayor Chris Cerino said, “We need to do this every year.”

 

Legacy Day 2023 marks the 10th anniversary of our annual celebration of the history and culture of Kent County’s African American citizens. In recognition of this milestone, Legacy Day 2023 is taking a retrospective look at the celebrations of the past decade that have expanded from a Saturday night dance party to a weekend of partying and education. We also recall the historic contributions of the African American community in music, business, education, religion, sports, and the military. 

 

The first Legacy Day was proposed by a community history committee in the Historical Society of Kent County (Airlee Ringgold Johnson, Jeanette Sherbondy, George Shivers, and Bill Leary) to figure out how to direct attention to the largely ignored history and culture of the African American citizens of Kent County.

 

As Legacy Day’s scope of activities has expanded in the past decade, the original goals and expectations have stayed constant. Legacy Day should increase the awareness and appreciation by Kent County’s Black and White citizens of their shared history and culture, and provide a good time with good music and good food. All activities should be free and open to all. And even if the August heat becomes uncomfortable, it should never rain on Legacy Day!                                                                                                                     

Legacy Day 2015 continued to explore the important role of music in African American life by recognizing local music venues and Kent County musicians from the 1960s and 1970s. The venues included four beer gardens in the 300 block of Cannon Street that offered rhythm and blues via the jukebox. In addition to the Uptown Club, the Concrete Club near Great Oak, also owned by Charlie Graves, and the Rank Poison Inn in Butlertown, later renamed the Blue Moon Tavern, featured live music. The best remembered local musician was saxophonist and singer Randolph “Jazz” Johnson; others were the Highlanders, the Rotations, the New Breed, and Black Soul. 

 

Legacy Day 2016 paid tribute to Black business owners of the 19th and 20th centuries. Successful 19th century entrepreneurs included restaurateurs Samuel and William Perkins, Levi Rogers, siblings Kitty and Thomas Toomey, and Henry and Louisa Harris; butcher and grocer James Jones; and real estate operator Thomas Cuff. In the mid-20th century, commercial activity flourished on Calvert and Cannon streets. Calvert Street was home to the Uptown Club, the Munson family store, and the Kenneth Walley funeral home. Cannon Street included three barbershops, two beauty parlors, four beer gardens, and the first Black electrician’s store.

 

Legacy Day 2017 honored 32 African American educators who taught or served as principals in segregated Kent County schools and later, in most cases, in integrated schools. A consistent theme of their recollections was that despite many discriminatory aspects of segregated schools, Black students received a quality education before the long-delayed integration of Kent County schools in 1967. They attributed that success to well-prepared and committed teachers, strong leadership that enforced high academic standards and discipline, and strong support from the African American community.

 

Legacy Day 2018 honored the Black and White students who participated in the tumultuous early years of integration in Kent County schools. Gradual integration between 1963 and 1967 was the work of more than 100 “pioneers,” Black students who volunteered, or were volunteered by their parents, to attend formerly all-White schools before full integration in 1967. These pioneers included Robert “Bobby” Brown, Michelle Towson, Herbert Warren, Vanessa Isaacs Ringgold, and Ellsworth Tolliver, whose experiences ranged from the good to the bad to the downright ugly.

 

Legacy Day 2019 honored African American churches of Kent County by documenting the history of the 24 early churches, all of which were founded at least 125 years ago and belonged to a branch of the Methodist church. Given the widespread poverty and discrimination that African Americans had to contend with, the construction and preservation of 24 churches (roughly one for every 275 Black residents) represent a remarkable testament to the faith and resourcefulness of their congregations. This achievement also emphasizes the essential role of the Black church as a community institution that not only fulfills spiritual needs but also helps to advance the social, educational, and political aspirations of its members.

 

In response to the covid-19 pandemic, Legacy Day 2020 went virtual with several online events, including a genealogy workshop hosted by the National Museum of African American History and Culture, a spirited discussion of Black student life at Washington College, and a video previewing our tribute to outstanding African American athletes and coaches postponed until 2021.

 

Legacy Day 2021 featured some of the most successful basketball and football teams at Garnet and Kent County high schools, the community baseball teams that flourished in small towns from the 1920s to the 1970s, and the church league basketball teams of the 1970s and 1980s. We honored 44 athletes and four coaches.

 

Legacy Day 2022 saluted more than 1,700 African American men and women from Kent County who served in the United States Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard. This record of service began during the American Revolution and continues to the present. During the Civil War, more than 44% of eligible Black men in Kent County, free and enslaved, fought to emancipate themselves, their families, and their brethren, and to preserve the Union. Local African Americans enlisted in significant numbers to fight in every major war of the 20th century. Legacy Day 2022 was a modest effort to say, “Thank you for your service.” 

 

Legacy Day 2023 plans to honor the dozens of volunteers and donors who have produced an annual festival that documents and celebrates aspects of the history and culture of African Americans in Kent County. The Honorees’ Reception will include a special tribute to Airlee Ringgold Johnson, who has provided the indispensable leadership, inspiration, community links, and driving force that have made Legacy Day a success. Visit the Sumner Hall website for a schedule of the free events August 18-20.

 

 

Bill Leary, a retired historian and archivist, is on the board of directors of Sumner Hall. He has worked on Legacy Day exhibits since 2014, shortly after retiring to Chestertown.

 

Common Sense for the Eastern Shore

US Wind, Oceantic Pitch Offshore Wind Future Amid Trump Attacks

By Jan Plotczyk • September 10, 2025
 At Shore Progress’s monthly meeting last week, the tension between national politics and local opportunity was on full display. With President Donald Trump escalating his attacks on offshore wind, representatives from US Wind and the Oceantic Network made their case directly to members gathered in Salisbury. From the outset, the presenters stressed the scale of what’s coming to the Eastern Shore. “This project is the equivalent of building two nuclear power plants off our coast,” US Wind representative Dave Wilson said, pointing to plans for 114 turbines and four offshore substations. Together, he said, the project will generate two net gigawatts of clean energy, enough to power approximately 26% of the homes in Maryland. The presentation walked members through the timeline: a four-phase buildout beginning in the southeast corner of the lease area, with each phase, including its own export cable, routed through Indian River Bay into the regional grid at the Indian River Power Plant in Delaware. Environmental safeguards on display Slides showed how US Wind plans to minimize negative effects on wildlife. The company will use an aircraft detection lighting system to keep turbines dark until a low-flying aircraft approaches, reducing night-sky light pollution. Marine protections include bubble curtains to dampen noise during pile driving, visual and acoustic monitoring for whales, and strict shutdown zones if animals enter construction areas. Lights will be on less than 1% of the time in any given year, underscoring their view that offshore wind can coexist with migratory birds, commercial fishing, and marine transit. Economic promise for the Shore The discussion turned quickly to what the project means locally. US Wind pledged hundreds of jobs for the Shore, with commitments to use union labor and partner with minority, women, and veteran-owned businesses. Officials noted that the Lower Shore Workforce Alliance has already received $700,000 from Maryland Works for Wind to build training programs, while community colleges are adjusting trade curricula to educate the next generation of turbine technicians. A planned operations and maintenance facility in West Ocean City will house technicians and crew transfer vessels, bringing steady employment and infrastructure investment to the harbor. A national fight with local stakes The meeting didn’t shy away from politics. Several members noted Trump’s repeated attempts to derail offshore wind projects including his latest push to revoke US Wind’s federal permit. US Wind officials acknowledged that such lawsuits could delay progress but insisted that the project’s federal approvals are on solid ground. “This is the Eastern Shore's moment,” Shore Progress Chair Jared Schablein said, referring to a slide that showed more than $815 million in offshore wind investments statewide. “The question is whether politics will slow us down, or whether we keep building for the Shore’s future.” The presentation had a clear message: Offshore wind is not just about clean power, but also about jobs, investment, and opportunity for Eastern Shore families. Jan Plotczyk spent 25 years as a survey and education statistician with the federal government, at the Census Bureau and the National Center for Education Statistics. She retired to Rock Hall.

Gov. Moore Signs “Housing Starts Here” Order to Tackle Maryland’s Affordability Crisis

By Gren Whitman • September 10, 2025
Standing at the Legacy at Twin Rivers apartment community in Howard County, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore signed an executive order aimed at addressing his state’s deepening housing crisis. Titled Housing Starts Here, his order is designed to accelerate construction of affordable homes and cut through what Moore called years of “no and slow” decision-making in state housing policy. Maryland is facing a shortage of at least 96,000 housing units, according to state estimates, a gap that officials say has driven up prices, pushed families out of the state, and stifled economic growth. “Building pathways to wealth for Marylanders, creating jobs, attracting new businesses and residents, growing our economy, and securing our future all start with housing,” Moore said at the signing. “We need to be the state of yes and now.” Five guiding principles The executive order lays out five core priorities for state housing policy: Use state land for housing . Agencies must identify surplus properties and land near transit stations that can be converted into new housing developments. Cut red tape. State permitting processes will be streamlined, with new rules allowing third-party reviewers to accelerate approvals. Strengthen partnerships. A new State Housing Ombudsman will serve as a liaison to help coordinate projects between state agencies, local governments, and developers. Set clear goals. By January 2026, the state will publish housing production targets for each county and update them every five years. Incentivize affordable housing. Jurisdictions that meet housing targets or pass pro-housing policies will be recognized with new Maryland Housing Leadership Awards, making them more competitive for state funding. Speed as the priority State officials said the new framework is focused on cutting delays that can hold back projects for years. By digitizing applications, engaging multiple agencies simultaneously, and allowing outside reviewers, the state aims to expedite project completion while upholding environmental and community standards. What could this mean for us on the Eastern Shore? Moore acknowledged that housing affordability consistently ranks as Marylanders’ No. 1 concern. For young people in particular, high costs and long commutes are major reasons they leave the state. The order seeks to reverse that trend, tying housing growth to job creation and transit access. On the Eastern Shore , where rental availability and starter homes are limited, Moore’s order could open opportunities for mixed-use, transit-oriented projects on state-owned land, as well as accelerate approval for affordable housing initiatives backed by nonprofits and local developers. What comes next The Department of Housing and Community Development will publish the state’s first set of production targets by Jan. 1, 2026, followed by annual progress reports starting in 2027. Agencies have until March 2026 to implement many of the new permitting and funding acceleration rules. Moore framed the executive order as a generational investment. “Making housing more affordable is not just about building shelter, it’s about building a legacy,” he said.

Alsobrooks Leads Push to Remove RFK Jr. From HHS, Citing “Costs, Chaos, and Corruption”

By Gren Whitman • September 10, 2025
Sen. Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.) has intensified her calls for Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to step down, releasing a detailed report that she says proves his tenure has been a disaster for American families. The first senator to demand Kennedy’s resignation in May, Alsobrooks joined Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) in unveiling a 54-page report that chronicles what they describe as the “costly, chaotic, and corrupt” record of Kennedy’s first 203 days at the department. Released before Kennedy’s Senate hearing last week, the report outlines examples of alleged mismanagement for each day since he was sworn in on Feb. 13. “Robert Kennedy’s tenure as America’s chief health officer has been higher costs, more chaos, and boundless corruption,” Wyden said. “His actions are endangering children, leaving parents confused and scared, and forcing families and taxpayers to pay more for their health care.” Echoing that assessment, Alsobrooks cited testimony from scientists at the National Institutes of Health in Maryland who she says have watched critical cancer research grind to a halt under Kennedy’s leadership. “His actions are increasing Americans’ health care costs, causing chaos, and furthering the Trump administration’s endless stream of corruption,” she said. The report argues that Kennedy has: Driven up costs by backing the Trump administration’s budget plan, which Alsobrooks says strips health coverage from 15 million Americans while handing tax breaks to the wealthy and corporations. Created chaos by dismantling HHS programs, undermining research institutions, and promoting vaccine misinformation. Engaged in corruption by using the office to advance personal and family financial interests, particularly around limiting vaccine access. Public Citizen, a consumer advocacy group, praised Alsobrooks’ leadership. “President Trump and Senate Republicans made a grievous error when entrusting Kennedy with our nation’s health,” the group said in. “It is far past time that President Trump rectifies this error by firing Kennedy before more lives are unnecessarily put at risk.” Alsobrooks appeared on the Morning Joe TV show on to discuss the findings and to reiterate her demand that Kennedy resign or be removed. “This is about protecting families and protecting science,” she said. “Our nation’s health system cannot afford another day under Robert Kennedy’s reckless watch.” As a community organizer, journalist, administrator, project planner/manager, and consultant, Gren Whitman has led neighborhood, umbrella, public interest, and political committees and groups, and worked for civil rights and anti-war organizations.

Wicomico Officials Advance ICE Partnership Amid Community Opposition and Rising Concerns

By CSES Staff • September 10, 2025
Wicomico County leaders have announced plans to move forward with the federal government’s controversial 287(g) program, entering into an agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) that would deputize local officers to serve immigration warrants inside the county jail. Under the model selected, known as the Warrant Service Officer program, specially trained deputies at the detention center would be allowed to serve civil immigration warrants on individuals already in custody. County Executive Julie Giordano and Sheriff Mike Lewis emphasized that deputies would not conduct street-level immigration enforcement. “Public safety is our top responsibility,” Giordano said. “The Warrant Service Officer program provides our sheriff’s office with the tools they need to address individuals already in custody who may pose a risk to our community at no additional cost to the county.” Lewis added that the program “gives our deputies the ability to safely and lawfully carry out their duties while ensuring that Wicomico County remains a secure place to live, work, and raise a family.” Community pushback The announcement drew swift opposition from civil rights and community organizations, including the ACLU of Maryland, the Wicomico NAACP, and local grassroots groups such as Crabs on the Shore, who have warned that the agreement will harm immigrant families, sow fear, and erode trust between residents and law enforcement. Opponents also criticized the process, arguing that the decision was rushed through without meaningful public input despite repeated calls for hearings. “This is being framed as an administrative detail, but it has huge consequences for our neighbors,” one advocate said. Concerns about cost and precedent Supporters of the WSO model have emphasized that the partnership comes “at no additional cost” to Wicomico taxpayers, but critics point out that other jurisdictions have found otherwise. Anne Arundel County canceled its own 287(g) agreement, citing high costs and community backlash. The Camden Police Department in Delaware withdrew from a similar partnership after public protests in May. Advocates note that the federal government does not fully reimburse counties for the time, training, and legal exposure associated with 287(g) programs, leaving local taxpayers to shoulder hidden expenses. First on Delmarva If finalized, Wicomico County would become the first government or police agency on the Delmarva Peninsula to formally enter into a 287(g) agreement with ICE. Supporters say that distinction demonstrates a commitment to accountability and public safety. Opponents warn it risks branding the county as hostile to immigrant communities that have long been central to the Shore’s workforce, particularly in poultry processing and agriculture. The county’s decision comes amid a broader national debate about local involvement in federal immigration enforcement, with critics warning that partnerships like 287(g) make communities less safe by discouraging victims and witnesses from coming forward. For now, the final agreement is pending federal approval. But with strong opposition already mobilized, the fight over Wicomico’s new partnership is likely only beginning.

Wicomico Democrats Silent as County Leaders Advance ICE Agreement

By CSES Staff • September 10, 2025
Wicomico County Republicans have moved forward with an agreement to join the federal 287(g) program, aligning the county with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). County Executive Julie Giordano and Sheriff Mike Lewis are backing the program to train county officers at the detention center to help ICE identify non-citizens for deportation proceedings. The agreement has triggered strong pushback from immigrant advocates, civil rights groups, and community leaders who warn that this partnership will erode trust between residents and law enforcement, risk racial profiling, and allot local tax dollars to assist federal immigration enforcement. Yet amid the growing controversy, the Wicomico County Democratic Central Committee has issued no response to the ICE agreement, even as residents voice frustration that the Democratic establishment’s silence has ceded the conversation to Republicans. Moreover, the Central Committee has remained silent with regard to recent comments by Democratic Councilwoman April Jackson, who told the Washington Post that the poultry industry should reduce its reliance on immigrant workers. Jackson also said, “a lot of Americans aren’t employed because the Haitians are taking our jobs.” Jackson’s remarks have drawn widespread criticism from immigrant advocates. For many residents, the Democratic leadership’s silence is as much of a concern as the county government’s new partnership with ICE. As the county waits for federal approval of the 287(g) agreement, the absence of a Democratic counterweight has left immigrant families and community organizers to carry the opposition on their own.
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As Questions Swirl About County Executive Run, Del. Sheree Sample-Hughes to Host Community Conversation in Dorchester

By Community Desk • September 10, 2025
With speculation mounting that Delegate Sheree Sample-Hughes (D-37A) may run for County Executive for Wicomico County in 2026, the longtime Eastern Shore lawmaker will headline a Community Conversation in Dorchester County on Sept. 17 at 6 pm. Sponsored by the Eastern Shore Democrats, the event will give residents the opportunity to hear Sample-Hughes speak about local priorities — schools, public safety, health care access, and economic development in the mid-Shore. Sample-Hughes, former Speaker Pro Tem of the Maryland House of Delegates, has represented portions of Wicomico and Dorchester counties for more than a decade. Her record includes bipartisan work on district projects, as well as efforts to expand health services and invest in infrastructure. Although organizers emphasize that the Sept. 17 gathering is not a campaign event, the timing has fueled interest. Political observers note that any appearance by Sample-Hughes will be closely watched as Democrats weigh potential challengers for County Executive in the upcoming cycle. The forum will include remarks from the delegate, followed by a question-and-answer session. Seating is available first-come, first-served and residents from across the Shore are encouraged to attend. Key details What: Community Conversation with Del. Sheree Sample-Hughes When: Sept. 17, 6 pm Where: Dorchester County, venue to be announced by organizers. Format: Remarks followed by audience Q&A Before her election to the House of Delegates, Sample-Hughes served on the Wicomico County Council. Should she enter the county executive race, many believe she would be a serious challenger to Republican incumbent Julie Giordano.
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