Hollywood, MD – A new historical marker commemorating the Middle Passage and the lives of enslaved individuals was unveiled on Saturday at Historic Sotterley, a collaboration between the site and the Maryland Department of Transportation. This event, part of the Day of Unity and Healing, marks a significant recognition of Maryland’s role in the transatlantic slave trade.
The ceremony featured remarks from key figures including Gwen Bankins, Vice President of the Historic Sotterley Board of Trustees and a descendant of Sotterley, and Nancy Easterling, the Executive Director. Aaron Levinthal, Senior Archaeologist at the Maryland Department of Transportation, and Jeanne Pirtle, the site’s former Director of Programming and Partnerships, also spoke.
The newly unveiled Middle Passage Marker is a poignant tribute to the hundreds of Africans forced into slavery and transported to the Americas aboard ships like the Generous Jenny, which brought 260 enslaved Africans to Sotterley in 1720. Sadly, 29 of these individuals did not survive the journey.
Sotterley, a recognized Middle Passage Site by the Middle Passage Ceremonies and Port Markers Project (MPCPMP) since 2012, first installed its marker in 2014, becoming Maryland’s inaugural site for such a commemoration. This latest marker symbolizes a deeper acknowledgment from the state and aims to increase Historic Sotterley’s role in narrating a transparent and inclusive history.
Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul J. Wiedefeld underscored the importance of such markers in his statement. “The Sotterley Historical Roadside Marker highlights one of Maryland’s untold stories and honors the lives impacted by the Middle Passage,” he said. This historical marker not only supports the community and descendants of enslaved people but also educates future generations.
The marker will find its permanent home on Sotterley Road near the intersection with Route 235, serving as a constant reminder of the area’s dark history and its ongoing journey towards healing and unity.
