Two hundred and fifty years after the Declaration of Independence, it's easy to forget just how controversial the American Revolution was. Marylanders served on both sides of the conflict. Some joined the Continental Army in support of independence from Great Britain, while others remained loyal to the British Crown.

For Black Marylanders, the choice was especially fraught. The Continental Army initially barred Black enlistment while fighting for a republic built on the labor of enslaved people. Meanwhile, the British military defended a colonial empire but offered freedom to many enslaved people who joined its ranks.

On the latest episode of Maryland Unfolded, host Sheilah Kast explores this complex moment in history and the roles Black soldiers played on both sides of the Revolutionary War.

First, she speaks with Steven Xavier Lee about the Black Patriots who served in the struggle for independence. They discuss one soldier in particular, Thomas Carney, and a new monument that will soon be unveiled in Annapolis honoring Maryland's Black Revolutionary War veterans.

Then, Kast speaks with Alan Gilbert about Black Loyalists, the African Americans who joined British forces during the war. They also discuss why the Continental Army eventually began recruiting Black soldiers and examine the Revolution's impact on Black freedom struggles beyond the United States, especially in Haiti.

Guests:

Steven Xavier Lee is the author of The Story of Mr. Thomas Carney: A Maryland Patriot of the American Revolutionary War. An educator, museum professional, and designer, he was the founding director of the Benjamin Banneker Historical Park and Museum. He is an adjunct professor of history at Stevenson University and a former commissioner on the Maryland Commission on African-American History and Culture.

Alan Gilbert is Distinguished University Professor Emeritus in the Josef Korbel School of International Studies at the University of Denver and the author of Black Patriots and Loyalists: Fighting for Emancipation in the War for Independence.

Maryland Unfolded is made possible in part by Gallagher LLP.

In the premiere episode of Maryland Unfolded, host Marc Steiner explores two distinct chapters of Maryland history.

First, he speaks with political scientist Matthew Crenson about Baltimore politics in the Revolutionary era, examining the often-contentious relationship between the city and the rest of Maryland and how the Revolution shaped state politics for generations.

Then, Steiner celebrates the life and legacy of poet Lucille Clifton, Maryland's first African American Poet Laureate, with her daughter, Sidney Clifton. Their conversation explores Clifton's poetry, influence, and impact.

Guests:

Matthew Crenson is Academy Professor and Professor Emeritus of Political Science at Johns Hopkins University. His most recent book is Baltimore: A Political History.

Sidney Clifton is the founder and president of the Clifton House. An Emmy-nominated producer, creative professional, mentor, and advocate for underserved storytellers, she has worked as an executive producer, casting director, voice director, and creative development executive in animated and live-action content across multiple platforms.