The unique relationship between African Americans and the Chesapeake Bay contains an abundance of untold stories, as told in the documentary, Water’s Edge: Black Watermen of the Chesapeake. Join us for a screening of the film with a discussion afterwards with the film’s director, Alexis Aggrey.

Mid-nineteenth century Maryland offered pseudo-freedom to Black Americans who lived and worked on the water. Between 1790 and 1860, the population of free Blacks grew tremendously; some 58% of the Black population was free. This was the largest population of free Black Americans in the entire United States, and watermen were central to the success of these communities. In Maryland, the tradition of seafood fed millions and offered an opportunity for innovation that extended to both the free and enslaved. Water’s Edge: Black Watermen of the Chesapeake chronicles unsung Marylanders who revolutionized an industry, dreamed beyond their circumstance and are still keeping this tradition alive today.

Alexis Aggrey is an Emmy award winning director/producer who has worked with public television, cable, and museum clients for more than 15 years, creating documentary content that educates and inspires.

For centuries, Delaware has grown, produced, and brewed foods and drinks that have traveled across the country and around the world. But where do these goods come from and who are the people, past and present, that have made this possible? Through programs and lectures, History Revival: Food and Drink Across Delmarva will connect the public to the rich history of agriculture on the Delmarva peninsula, and the unique goods that have graced Delaware's tables for centuries. This lecture series is a collaborative effort of the Zwaanendael Museum and Lewes Public Library and has been made possible in part by Delaware Humanities and the National Endowment for the Humanities: Democracy demands wisdom.