For Juneteenth I want to highlight a beach that I have never been to. In my hunt for beaches on googlemaps, I came across an area in Annapolis called ‘Highland Beach.’ And while I can’t go there because it is limited to locals, I hope you find the history behind this little beach as fascinating and important as I do.

The town was basically founded by Frederick Douglass’ youngest son Major Charles Douglass who bought the land after being turned away by a nearby resort because of his race. “When Highland Beach was incorporated in 1922, it became the first African American municipality in Maryland.  It is also believed to be the first African American summer resort in the United States.”

I am far from an expert on this and have not had the time to dig as deep as I wish, so I am highlighting some articles that discuss the history of the beach.

https://www.highlandbeachmd.org/

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/highland-beach-a-historic-refuge-from-racism-finds-itself-at-a-crossroads/2012/08/25/52a7ad1e-ed55-11e1-a80b-9f898562d010_story.html

https://whatsupmag.com/news/highland-beach-chesapeake-bay-maryland-s-first-african-american-incorporated-town/

Highland Beach, Maryland (1893- )