The Cover

OVERALL THEME: The lives of African-American families in a changing waterman’s community before the Civil War to April 2011.

Establishing a historical context, the book highlights the lives and experiences of several generations of certain African American families living in a once vibrant waterman’s community during the last three centuries.  Although black and white watermen were equal on the water, social conditions sent their children to segregated schools and they and their families attended separate Methodist churches.  Readers learn stories of several African American families who lived earlier days of struggle, loss, hard work, adventure, humor and change that inspire their lives today.

The stories take place on the Shady Side peninsula, surrounded by the Chesapeake Bay and West River, south of Annapolis, Maryland, and an hour from both Washington, DC and Baltimore, MD.

The main characters are longtime African American families (Crowner, Dennis, Gross, Holland, Matthews, Nick, Scott, Thompson) who have lived on the Shady Side peninsula for generations.  Without them there is no story!

Sponsored by: Captain Avery Museum

To order the book now go to amazon.com or barnesandnoble.com