Building Bridges to Common Ground

Building Bridges to Common Ground:
Resilience, Remembrance, Honor and Equity

September 5 - 7th

A multiple day event

From September 5th through 7th, 2019, Historic Sotterley will hold a three-day program continuing the 2019 theme and intuitive of Building Bridges to Common Ground: Resilience, Remembrance, Honor and Equity. Speakers, panelists, archeologists, historians, and Sotterley descendants will bring stories and experiences of their collective research and memory of ancestors, both enslaved and free, to modern relevance. This program is made possible in part by a generous grant from Maryland Humanities.

 

Thursday, September 5, 2019 at 7:00 p.m.

Interpreting Difficult History at James Madison's Montpelier

Elizabeth Chew, Vice President of Museum Programs, James Madison’s Montpelier, will discuss The Mere Distinction of Colour, the ground-breaking exhibition on slavery at Montpelier. Winner of six national awards, the exhibition considers slavery in the founding era, the lived experience of enslaved families on James Madison’s plantation, and the legacies of slavery in today’s society. It was organized by Montpelier staff in partnership with descendants of those enslaved by the Madison family.

Friday, September 6, 2019 - Registration 9:00 am

10:00 am - 12:00 pm Session: Power in the Name

Dr. Kenneth Cohen, Curator at the National American History Museum, speaks to colonial and early America’s naming practices among the ruling class and place names of indigenous peoples. TBD, African Studies from TBD speaks to African naming practices of peoples affected by the trans-Atlantic slave trade, and African American naming during slavery to the present day.

12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Lunch available for purchase or bring your own.

1:00 pm - 1:45 pm

Performance/Discussion

Janice Curtis Green, a living history performer and American storyteller, brings Harriet Tubman to life in Walk a Mile In My Shoes.

2:00 pm - 4:00 pm Session: Rise to the East
Dr. Julia King and Dr. Elizabeth Chew, discuss burial sites and archeology’s importance and relevance to places of history, cultural justice, and remembrance.

 
Saturday, September 7, 2019 - Registration 9:00 am

10:00 am -12:00 pm Session: Descendant Panel discussion

Sotterley Descendants of owners and enslaved discuss their stories, challenges and Historic Preservation. Facilitated by Merideth Taylor and John Felicitas.

12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Lunch available for purchase or bring your own.
1:00 pm - 1:45 pm

Interactive Performance

Janice Curtis Green, a living history performer and American storyteller celebrates life with Fun with Animals and Family Folktales. Listen to stories for the young and the young at heart. Relive a time when animals walked upright, talked to each other and honored Mother Nature. Hear tales of how we got over. Enjoy tales traditional and contemporary stories with songs and audience participation.

2:00 pm - 4:00 pm Session

Zachary R. Wood, author and Ted talk speaker, presents: Uncensored, free speech, race, and dissenting opinions.

 

Programs and speakers are subject to change.

Free to the public, but limited seating – ADVANCE REGISTRATION REQUIRED. CLICK HERE to register!