Biddeford Saco Black History Walking Tour
Standing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ)
MAY 4, 2024 at 10:00 AM
Led by: Delilah Poupore
Organization: Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ)
Duration: One hour
Location: 138 Main Street, Saco, Maine 04072
Learn more
Embark on a journey through Biddeford and Saco’s rich yet often overlooked Black history with our engaging Black History Walking Tour. Led by a team of dedicated historians, both professional and grassroots, this tour unearths the vibrant tapestry of Black residents, entrepreneurs, and significant figures who have shaped these communities.
You’ll encounter landmarks associated with the Black presence in the region. From the residences and businesses of Black residents to the sites visited by renowned abolitionists and Civil Rights leaders, each step reveals a previously suppressed chapter of history.
Delve deeper into the complexities of history as we shed light on uncomfortable truths, including the involvement of city founders in the institution of slavery and the connections between the prosperity of northern mills and the legacy of the Atlantic Slave Trade.
Join us on this illuminating journey, where questions are encouraged, and dialogue fosters a deeper understanding of our shared history.
Uncovering Enslavement in Maine & Westbrook in the 17th & 18th Centuries, with Vana Carmona of The Prince Project
Westbrook Juneteenth Planning Committee
Saturday, May 4, 1:30-2:30pm | Free Event
Westbrook Community Center, Oak Room
426 Bridge St, Westbrook, ME
Facebook Event Link
Ten years ago, Vana Carmona discovered the gravestone of a man named Prince near several of her family’s burial plots. Learning he had been enslaved by her ancestors, she embarked on a historical quest to find others. Soon she found out that enslavement in Maine was more common than she ever believed. Moreover, many of our founding fathers were also complicit in human trafficking from Africa. Today, Vana’s research has evolved into The Prince Project, now a non-profit, 501(c)3 organization. It has a database of almost 2000 people of color who lived in Maine prior to 1800, including Westbrook. The result has been a unique uncovering of enslavement in Maine, a history that is often misconstrued – if not ignored. Come learn about the history of Westbrook’s early residents and their involvement in chattel slavery that was not made illegal in the State of Massachusetts (including the lands we now call Maine) until 1783.
