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Southern Maryland

Equity in History Coalition

February 2022

The experience of the Big Conversation indicated one important factor standing out among the
causes of racism – without knowing the history of people of color in our nation, we cannot fully
understand and address the causes of racism. If we promote an understanding of our own rich
local history, it will humanize the stories and make this history more readily understood and
impactful. The local history of Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color in Southern
Maryland is extensive, but too often has not been revealed or has been constrained within the
“silos” of organizations.

To address this challenge, the Big Conversation Steering Committee undertook the following:

• Communicated the need for a coalition of local historical agencies, societies, and
schools/colleges to establish a structure and protocol within the region for identifying and
improving access to this history and invited them to an initial meeting.

• Proceeded to begin to build the coalition at three initial meetings with a focus on the
following areas:

1. Identifying existing resources, making them accessible, and developing the means to
share and maintain the inventory.

2. Creating and supporting partnerships while developing a systemic plan within
education to improve access to the local history of Black, Indigenous, and People of
Color across our community.

3. Developing and sustaining the coalition and support within the community. Creating
the management structure and relationships to make the coalition work.

And setting a clear mission and guiding principle:

Mission
To connect and empower community-based organizations, and educational and public
institutions throughout Southern Maryland to elevate access to the collective and multi-
perspective history of the region.

Guiding Principle:
An inclusive and honest telling of history:
• provides a more accurate and comprehensive understanding of the past,
• honors the voice and experiences of Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color,
• humanizes people of the past and present, and
• creates empathy, respect, and understanding amongst community members.