Recording Available for Panel Presentation, “Sticks and Stones: (De)humanizing Words? Considering the Language of Slavery, Race, and Marginalized Communities.”

Chesapeake Crossroads Heritage Area was pleased to present a powerful Panel Presentation on March 28, led by author and scholar Chris Haley of the Maryland State Archives, entitled “Sticks and Stones: (De)humanizing Words? Considering the Language of Slavery, Race, and Marginalized Communities.”  The program looked closely at the ways that language used by public history professionals and academic historians, and today’s communities, to describe current, past, past people, and atrocities, has changed. 

Mr. Haley, who is Director of Research, Education and Outreach, and the Study of the Legacy of Slavery at the Maryland State Archives, made a presentation on the complex representations of race and language which he has noticed over his career as an actor, writer, and archivist, and nephew of renowned author Alex Haley. Maya Davis, Riversdale House Museum Manager, Joe Toolan, Chair,  Annapolis Pride; Commissioner,  Maryland Commission on LGBTQIA+ Affairs, and Hannah Lane, Maryland State Archives Research Archivist, Legacy of Slavery Focus, shared personal and professional experiences which dealt with navigating and addressing potentially charged narratives. Dr. Eric Elston, Storyteller, Filmmaker, Board Member of Wiley H. Bates Legacy Center, and Director of Diversity and Development with Telegraph Creative, served as Moderator.

Our thanks as well to Anthony Smoot Productions for the audio/video support, and to Wiley H. Bates Legacy Center for hosting the event.

The workshop was recorded, and you can watch it using this YouTube link: https://youtu.be/06_2VdKidMA (2 hours, 20 minutes).

Kudos to all involved for a very impactful workshop!