Kathleen Neumann, Maine Historical Society, Cumberland County
2021
6-8, 9-12, Postsecondary
- Social Studies -- History
1-5 days
- 1500-1774
- 1775-1850
- 1851-1920
- 1921-today
- The People/Peopling of Maine
This lesson presents an overview of the history of the Black community in Maine and the U.S., including Black people who were enslaved in Maine, Maine’s connections to slavery and the slave trade, a look into the racism and discrimination many Black people in Maine have experienced, and highlights selected histories of Black people, demonstrating the longevity of their experiences and contributions to the community and culture in Maine.
- Students understand what the slave trade entailed: the buying and selling of people (mainly Black Africans) into servitude for their entire life for the benefit of (mostly White) businesses. Students will be able to identify and describe Maine’s connections to slavery. Students will be able to define racism and discrimination and the impact it had and continues to have on Black people in Maine and the U.S. Students will be able to identify and describe ways the Black community in Maine responded to racism and discrimination and worked for equality. Students will be able to identify and describe the ways in which Black Mainers have contributed to community life and culture in Maine. Students will answer questions about information from secondary and primary sources through close looking and hypothesizing. Students will examine and analyze primary source documents, art, and objects, and use the sources provided to draw informed conclusions and ask informed questions about the Black community in Maine and the United States.
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