Mount Calvert: Hurricanes Follow the Paths of Slave Ships

Some say that hurricanes follow the paths of slave ships.

Nine years ago, the actions of the Slave Dwelling Project were haphazard. I learned as I went. It was a crazy idea to spend nights in extant slave dwellings in the state of South Carolina. By that time in my life, I was well into Civil War reenacting. Being a reenactor gave me access to historic battlefields, reenacting battles that changed the course of this nation’s history. Oftentimes, I spent nights at these Civil War battlefields. The Slave Dwelling Project was based on the concept of spending nights at historic places by simply substituting slave dwellings for battlefields. I spend nights at historic properties that say yes to my unusual request. Haphazardly spending nights in slave dwellings was not a problem for me, fits my personality. I am an adventurer and not afraid of the unknown. Adapt and overcome. I don’t reside in comfort zones.

That haphazardness has now evolved into meticulous planning. Although we still do, it is no longer necessary for the Slave Dwelling Project to reach out to potential clients, now they reach out to us.

We have a planning team that vets all requests for the Slave Dwelling Project to apply its vision, mission, and goals at historic sites. Because of the high volume of requests that we get, planning is necessary.

Such planning was the case for the sleepover at Mount Calvert Historical and Archaeological Park in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. For a year, by conducting monthly phone calls, we had this event planned to the teeth. The plan was to have a staff gathering, campfire conversation, archaeological dig, and a panel discussion.

And then it happened, Hurricane Dorian. It seemed like all of that planning would be for naught.

With Hurricane Dorian threating the southeast coast, I got the following message from American Airlines:
“Hurricane Dorian, which is forecast to impact portions of the East Coast, may affect your upcoming travel on American Airlines. Your flight is currently on time; however, we are offering additional flexibility that may allow you to change your travel plans without a fee.”

Additionally, I got the message that the Charleston, South Carolina was closing on Wednesday, the day before my scheduled flight and would not open again until Friday, a day after my scheduled flight.

And then I got this message from American Airlines.
“Flight 4855 to DCA is canceled.”

All the planning in the world could not fix what was going on with Hurricane Dorian; Mother Nature was sending a message. The short of the story is, I got to Maryland one day late. As for being in the path of a hurricane, my house only had a few shingles blown off the roof. As a result of getting there late, we only had to cancel the scheduled meeting with staff.

According to its website: “Mount Calvert’s rich archaeological and historical resources represent over 8,000 years of human culture.  Archaeological evidence shows that American Indians were present from the Archaic Period (7500-1000 BC) through the Woodland Period (1000 BC-1600 AD). Early Archaic hunters and gathers visited the Upper Patuxent River to harvest the river’s natural resources. Later, Woodland Indians farmed the land and lived in permanent villages along the river until the 1600’s when European Settler arrived.”

The big house is oriented to the Patuxent River and made of bricks. My examination of those bricks yielded only one possible fingerprint. There are no slave dwellings on the site (existing or recreated). I would sleep in the big house among the exhibits.

Somewhere in the planning session, our wires got crossed. We try not to exceed 35 for the number of people participating in the sleepovers. Engaging more than 35 people in a campfire conversation can be a challenge.

On this occasion, 180 to 200 people signed up for the program. A group called Outdoor Afro signed up to participate. Information from their website states: “Outdoor Afro has become the nation’s leading, cutting edge network that celebrates and inspires African American connections and leadership in nature. We help people take better care of themselves, our communities, and our planet! Outdoor Afro is a national non-profit organization with leadership networks around the country. With nearly 80 leaders in 30 states from around the country, we connect thousands of people to outdoor experiences, who are changing the face of conservation.” 

Interesting words, conservation and conversation, they have the same letters in them, just arranged differently,  kind of like our missions. Maybe, that is why we get along so well. 

I had interacted with this group twice before. The first was an exclusive sleepover at Magnolia Plantation and Gardens in Charleston, South Carolina. The second was a kayak trip on the Combahee River to interpret the raid by the Union Army and Navy which was led by led by Harriet Tubman.

The plan was to break the group into fours and for me to interact with all four groups accordingly. That plan worked fine for the first two groups but, by the third group, the conversation had descended into chaos with people talking among themselves. A reprieve came the next morning when I got to sit in a circle with one of the groups that I did not reach the night before.

Some historic sites use the absence of slave dwellings as a reason for not interpreting slavery, despite the evidence that primary sources that archivists, genealogists, and historians discover. In the lack of the built environment that housed enslaved people, some sites engage archaeologists to help them find that evidence of where these buildings once stood at their sites. In the past, I’ve had opportunities to participate in archaeological digs at Hampton Plantation in Charleston County, SC, and Montpelier in Orange County, Virginia. I, and a group of students from Marquette University High School in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, explored the excavation site of the slave dwellings at Belle Grove Plantation in Middletown, Virginia.

Mount Calvert has an ongoing archaeological dig. Members who participated in the sleepover were invited to participate in the excavation. Young, old, Black, White, their excitement in the process was unwavering. Out of the ground, they found nails, a hinge fragment, glass fragments, smoking pipe fragments, brick fragments, animal bone fragments, and a button. All the items pulled out of the ground was evidence of the people whose stolen labor benefitted the enslavers at Mount Calvert. It was as if they were saying, “we were here; tell our story.

Conclusion:

Yes, some say that hurricanes follow the paths of slave ships. I wonder how many Africans found their graves at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean? How many gene pools eliminated? How many opportunities for those beautiful people to make this nation even greater through their exploited labor?

Despite our meticulous planning, Hurricane Dorian tried to steal our joy, but we prevailed.

Many historic sites don’t have existing slave dwellings. Some of those sites like Monticello, Montpelier and Mount Vernon have used archeology to place replicated slave dwellings back on the landscape.

Through archaeology, Mount Calvert has embarked on a journey that will scientifically tell the stories of those whose labor the enslavers stole. There will be push back, because that is not an isolated story. People who indulged in revisionist history will continue to want the sugarcoated, watered-down version of history that keeps them in their comfort zones.

By inviting the Slave Dwelling Project, Mount Calvert has committed to the real history that includes the lives of all who occupied that property. There should be no turning back, only moving forward toward that end. The Slave Dwelling Project is committed to assisting Mount Calvert in Changing the Narrative, One Slave Dwelling at Time.

Sitting Together at the Table of Sisterhood
by Lynda Davis

As I have stated in previous blog entries, I participate in overnights with the Slave Dwelling Project because I am a member of Coming to the Table (CTTT) and I believe that partaking in the overnights is a way to fulfill the mission, vision, and approaches of CTTT. The founders of CTTT were inspired by the vision of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. who said in his 1963 March on Washington speech “I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit together at the table of brotherhood.” CTTT’s mission is to Take America Beyond the Legacy of Enslavement (TABLE) by facing history, making connections, working toward healing, and taking action. You can find out more about CTTT here:

After every overnight (this one included), I am left with thoughts, feelings, and questions that come from the experience and from the thought-provoking discussions, which are usually held around a campfire. One question that struck me during this overnight was: What will it take for white women and African American women to sit together at the table of sisterhood and work on dismantling white supremacy? Instead of answering this question here in this blog, I would like to encourage every woman reading this blog to consider answering this question for yourself and posting your answer in the comment section shown below.

Catherine Carey

Reflecting on the Echoes of the Enslaved Conversation Circle
Mount Calvert, Prince George’s County, Maryland

On a warm Friday evening, September 6, 2019 more than 100 people gathered at Mount Calvert. Tents, camp chairs, and sleeping bags dotted a field. Arriving a bit late and struggling to put up a tent I was preoccupied. When I noticed a big crowd gathered at the other end of the field, I grabbed my chair, shouted at my friend, and ran over to hear Joseph McGill.

We heard about 9 years of sleeping in slave dwellings and changes in the way historical homes present their history. I got a strong sense that we, the people gathered at Mount Calvert that night, were encouraging or insisting on these changes. I felt a bright hopefulness.

We broke up into groups and walked over to four fires. I waved to my friend’s young daughter and she called out, “We’re over here!” As we went around the circle with introductions I realized that genealogy and the threads of slavery woven into our lives today interested the group. Genealogy brings up a strong sadness in me, so I listened lightly. I relaxed in my chair and gazed at the dancing flames.

As people talked more and more about the threads of slavery woven into our lives today I sat up and paid attention. I listened while the conversation deepened. People, including me, talked about our experiences. What came up? People talked about unfair discriminatory police practices, challenges to building wealth related to housing segregation, reparations, and exclusion from history books, tours, and museums. I felt sad.

I listened to people talking about hard conversations they have had with family members, co-workers, and in their communities. I felt hope.

When we started making s’mores, people began drifting away. Some gathered in small groups. Others started one-on-one conversations. I really enjoyed listening, offering encouragement to young people, and exchanging thoughts with others. Several people thanked me for my contributions. I received many warm smiles and some hugs.

Right now I’m fondly recalling the Echoes of Slavery conversations I had at Mount Calvert. Our past experiences and our future intentions differed. We shared two things. We agreed that our conversation at Mount Calvert was valuable. And we shared a sense that we will have a warmer and fuller future. I felt, and I continue to feel, a deep sense of pleasure and hope.

Stephanie Sperling
Echoes of the Enslaved Reflection

In 2018, I began work as the Assistant Archaeology Manager with Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, Department of Parks and Recreation in Prince George’s County. “PG” County, as some locals call it, holds the distinction as one of the most affluent majority African-American areas in the country and it has a rich but complex history. As an archaeologist, I have the opportunity to share many forgotten stories of former PG County residents in a tangible and meaningful way, although as a white woman, I grapple with my place as a history-teller for ethnic and racial minorities.

I now am responsible for managing excavations on one of the most historically significant sites in the County, called Mount Calvert. Archaeologists have discovered that Native people first settled along this part of the Patuxent River at least 10,000 years ago, and there were large villages at Mount Calvert for thousands of years. After Europeans arrived in the 1600s and the Native people were forced to leave, Mount Calvert was home to the first seat of government in the newly-formed Prince George’s County. Decades after the town dispersed, the property morphed into a large plantation and an imposing brick mansion was built using enslaved labor. The land continued to be farmed for more than a century after emancipation, and in the 1990s it became an archaeological park.

Today, we have a tremendous opportunity at Mount Calvert to dive into the diverse history of Prince George’s County, and our current research is focused on an area where a community of enslaved men, women, and children were housed from about 1790-1860. There is no trace of the slave quarters on the landscape today but there are thousands of artifacts left just beneath the surface, including bricks and nails from the buildings, animal bones and oyster shells discarded after meals, fragments of dishes and bottles, and personal items like keys, buttons, and tobacco pipes.

I have long known about the work of Joe McGill and The Slave Dwelling Project but have never taken the opportunity to attend an event. So after meeting Lynda Davis, a longtime friend of Joe’s, in 2018 and having a conversation with her about the prospect of bringing Joe to Prince George’s County, I was very intrigued and excited. Over the course of a year, we worked with Joe to develop an event series called “Echoes of the Enslaved” that would highlight the archaeological discoveries at Mount Calvert and other African-American sites in Prince George’s County while providing our residents with a forum for frank and open conversation about the lasting legacies of enslavement.

Leading up to the event, I was full of anxiety. Not only because of Hurricane Dorian, which threatened to ruin the plans we’d made, but also at the prospect of engaging the 187 people who had RSVP’d in potentially thorny discussions about race and slavery. In the end, about 100 people came to the Conversation Circle, which was way more than I ever expected to attend. We set up four separate fire pits to accommodate the diverse crowd, and the number of people who gathered around each varied greatly. I sat in a smaller group, with only about 15-20 men and women. Other circles had closer to 40 people. I was glad for where I ended up because sitting around a fire listening to others talk openly and honestly about the lasting legacies of enslavement was very intimate and revealing. While our numbers dwindled over the course of the evening, participants were courteous and respectful throughout.

The next morning, campers assisted in the excavation of the Mount Calvert slave quarters site, where an untold number of wooden buildings housed a community of men, women, and children over 150 years ago. As my husband pointed out, it was poignant to show people where the enslaved burned their fires near the same spot as ours burned just hours earlier. With the previous night’s conversations fresh in our minds, each discovery we made that day provided a profound link to our shared history. And the smiles on everyone’s faces showed me how much people enjoyed the experience. This is one of coolest things about archaeology – it connects us to the past in such a joyful and tangible way.

Holding the Echoes of the Enslaved event series at Mount Calvert was an experience I will never forget. It was such a rare and eye-opening opportunity for honest and candid discussion and I truly believe the world would be a better place if we did this more often. I’m still working on how to talk to modern Americans about my discoveries in the slave quarter excavation, but I am now all the more aware of how delicate and painful the subject of enslavement is for many people. However, I think that archaeology can be a tool for social justice and engaging others to join me in discovering and interpreting the past might be a step on the road to healing.