Participants in the upcoming Conversations on Race series will view a CBS 60 Minutes feature on the Clotilda—the last known ship to bring enslaved Africans to the United States—and explore the experiences of their descendants in Africatown, Alabama.
The story examines how families connected to the Clotilda are grappling with questions of legacy, power, and reconciliation generations later.
The Clotilda segment shares the story of the ship’s 1860 voyage, which illegally transported 110 captive Africans to Mobile, Alabama, more than 50 years after the transatlantic slave trade was outlawed. The vessel was later burned and sunk in an effort to conceal the crime.
Its wreckage, discovered in 2019, renewed attention to the descendants of Africatown’s founders—a community built by survivors and their families.
The segment explores the experiences of both the descendants and the families whose ancestors enslaved them as they grapple with questions of inheritance and healing. The longer Netflix documentary Descendant and Zora Neale Hurston’s Barracoon: The Story of the Last “Black Cargo” also delve into the Clotilda story.
Nancy Andrew, executive director of the Talbot Family Network, said the Conversations on Race program is designed to create meaningful community connections through shared learning.
“We chose this impactful film because it explores issues of legacy, generational wealth, and personal agency,” Andrew said. “Each session stands on its own, but together they deepen our understanding of race and history.”
Dana Newman, executive director of the Talbot County Free Library, said hosting the series aligns with the library’s mission to foster dialogue and inclusion.
“Public libraries are one of the few truly shared spaces in any community,” Newman said. “Hosting Conversations on Race helps us bring people together to learn from one another and confront history with empathy and understanding. It’s how we build a stronger, more connected Talbot County.”
The event is free, with space limited. Advance registration is required at bit.ly/dec8convo.
The Conversations on Race series is free and open to the public, held monthly from September through May, typically on the last Monday of each month. Partners for the 2025–26 series include the Water’s Edge Museum, Shore Lit, the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, and others.
The Talbot Family Network serves as Talbot County’s Local Management Board, established by the state of Maryland to improve coordination of services for children and families. TFN identifies local priorities, targets resources, and fosters collaboration across agencies and communities. More information is available here.
Talbot Family Network’s Conversations on Race series continues on Monday, October 27, with an exploration of the Talbot Historical Society’sUnited States Colored Troops: With Valor and Honor exhibition, followed by discussion and a shared meal.
Participants in the free event will be invited to explore the exhibition between 5 and 6:00 p.m., with a museum docent available to answer any questions.
Guests will then gather at the Talbot County Free Library beginning at 6:00 p.m. for dialogue, a light meal, and refreshments.
The With Valor and Honor exhibition highlights the sacrifices and contributions of local men whose courage and perseverance helped reshape American history as part of the United States Colored Troops (USCT).
Developed in collaboration with descendants, local organizations, and historians, the exhibit tells the story of the United States Colored Troops from Talbot County who served in the Civil War after the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863. This order allowed both free and enslaved Black men to join the Union Army and Navy.
Of the 180,000 Black men who served, 8,718 were from Maryland, and more than 600 were from Talbot County. Their enlistment was significantly influenced by Frederick Douglass, the Talbot County-born abolitionist and orator who strongly advocated for Black participation in the war.
At 6:00 p.m., participants will gather in the Easton Meeting Room of the Talbot County Free Library for a light meal and refreshments, followed by a facilitated conversation about the relevance of this historical exploration to our community and lives today.
Nancy Andrew, executive director of the Talbot Family Network, said the Conversations on Race program is designed to create meaningful community connections through shared learning.
This exhibition offers an opportunity not just to reflect on the contributions of these men, but to consider how their legacy continues to shape Talbot County today,” Andrew said. “By engaging in dialogue after the tour, we invite participants to connect history to present-day experiences and aspirations.
Peggy Morey, executive director of the Talbot Historical Society, hopes program participants will walk away with a more profound sense of appreciation for the stories told in With Valor and Honor.
These men showed extraordinary courage in answering the call to serve, often under impossible conditions,” Morey said. “Their contributions are too often overlooked, and we are proud to honor their memory here in their own community.
The free event has limited participation, and advanced registration is required at bit.ly/oct27convo.
The Conversations on Race Series is free and open to the public, taking place monthly from September through May, typically on the last Monday of each month. Other 2025-26 Conversations on Race partners include the Water’s Edge Museum, Shore Lit, the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, and more.
The Talbot Family Network serves as Talbot County’s Local Management Board and was established by the state of Maryland to change the way services are provided to children and families. TFN identifies priorities and targets resources for the jurisdiction’s communities while coordinating child and family services and administering state resources. Local Management Boards improve coordination across state agencies and empower local stakeholders to help drive local priorities.
“Big Tent Show,” by palette knife painter Dane Tilghman, is part of “Cryin’ Out Loud” at Spiralis Gallery and will be featured in the Conversations on Race series Monday, Sept. 29. The program begins at 5:30 p.m. at the gallery with an exhibition exploration, followed by a shared meal and discussion at the Talbot County Free Library. Hosted by Talbot Family Network, the event required advance registration.
Talbot Family Network’s Conversations on Race series will begin its 2025-26 season with an evening at Spiralis Gallery exploring the “Cryin’ Out Loud” exhibition, followed by a facilitated discussion and a shared meal at the Talbot County Free Library on Monday, Sept. 29, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
“Cryin’ Out Loud” celebrates the legacy, emotion, and cultural power of the Blues, and showcases the work of artists Dane Tilghman, Don O’Bannon, and Emery Franklin. A special feature of the exhibition will be “Blues Chapel” by Susan Lenz, an installation honoring female Blues legends. “Cryin’ Out Loud” opened on September 5 and continues through November 2.
Conversations on Race registered participants will gather at Spiralis Gallery, located at 35 W. Dover St. in Easton, at 5:30 p.m. to view the exhibit and hear a short gallery talk by owner Gail Patterson. Following the tour, the group will move to the library’s Easton meeting room for a light dinner, refreshments, and a facilitated dialogue.
The event is free, with limited participation and advanced registration currently closed.
“This partnership with Spiralis gives us the chance to enter this conversation through the richness of story-based art,” said Talbot Family Network Executive Director Nancy Andrew. “Hearing each other’s interpretations will make this a meaningful opportunity to make connections across the community.”
Spiralis Gallery focuses on emerging and mid-career artists to amplify the visual narratives of Afro-Caribbean artists while presenting bold pieces, vibrant fiber art, bricolage, and sculpture. More about the gallery and its artists is at www.spiralisgallery.com.
“Art is a necessary and vital part of our human experience; it can inform, challenge, inspire, and comfort us,” said Patterson. “The mission of Spiralis is to use art as a vehicle to spark human conversation, which can lead to deeper connections. I hope that art can be used in this case to lead us to more authentic conversations about race.”
The Spiralis Gallery program will conclude with a facilitated discussion at the library, where participants will reflect on the artwork and explore their personal narratives and mental models around race.
Upcoming Sessions
The fall schedule continues with a partnership with the Talbot County Historical Society around its “USCT Exhibit: With Valor and Honor.” Participants in the October 24 Conversation on Race will be invited to tour the exhibition before gathering at the Talbot County Free Library for dialogue.
The Conversations on Race Series is free and open to the public, taking place each month from September through May, generally on the last Monday of the month. Other 2025-26 Conversations on Race partners will include the Water’s Edge Museum, Shore Lit, the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, and more.
About Talbot Family Network
The Talbot Family Network serves as Talbot County’s Local Management Board and was established by the state of Maryland to change the way services are provided to children and families. TFN identifies priorities and targets resources for the jurisdiction’s communities while coordinating child and family services and administering state resources. Local Management Boards improve coordination across state agencies and empower local stakeholders to help drive local priorities.
The mission of the Talbot Family Network is to identify and develop support systems for a healthy, safe, caring, and equitable community for all Talbot County children and families through collaboration with public and private entities. For more information, visit www.talbotfamilynetwork.org.
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