Lessons from Salisbury's history of racial turmoil prompt frank discussion at forum

The painful discussion about the legacy of racial violence is ongoing and continued with frank talk at a recent forum in Salisbury.

The Truth and Reconciliation Initiative and the Wicomico County NAACP branch 7028 hosted the recent event at the Inspire Gallery. It included a presentation of the ongoing work to document lynching and other racial violence in the state, and also facilitated a conversation with the public about the modern state of race relations and policy.

"We're of the belief that we must recognize the past to move forward and learn the lessons from that (history)," said Monica Brooks, president of the Wicomico County NAACP. "We want to have opportunities to discuss and make this interactive so that everyone has the opportunity to participate. We want to make sure everyone is heard when we discuss these topics."

James Yamakawa, a board member of the Truth and Reconciliation Initiative, also noted there still needs to be some acknowledgement of the Salisbury's racial violence by the mayor and his administration. That issue came to ahead when the city purchased and moved its executive offices to the former Salisbury firehouse downtown.

Former Fire Chief Frederick Grier, Jr, took the rope for Matthew Williams' lynching on Dec. 4, 1931, from the former firehouse building. While the organization has formally requested an apology by Mayor Jack Heath representing the city, it has not yet been issued.

More on the city's past 'Origin of hate': NAACP seeks formal apology from city of Salisbury for lynching history

Recalling Salisbury's violent past of racial turmoil

Research by the initiative found 38 confirmed lynchings in Maryland from 1865 up till the 1930s. According to Yamakawa, the Eastern Shore even gained the shameful moniker of the "lynching Shore" at one point.

The most recognized by the city were lynching deaths between 1898 and 1931 of Garfield King, Matthew Williams and an unidentified middle-aged male.

According to the county's NAACP chapter, some city officials during that time have recently been identified as having been directly involved in the lynching of Williams on Dec. 4, 1931. Specifically, the organization had confirmed then Police Chief Nicholas Holland helped lead the mob that kidnapped Williams, and Fire Chief Grier found rope for Williams' lynching.

"The number of confirmed lynchings doesn't include the number of near-lynchings. Sadly, for all the ones you see there so many that we don't see. In the state, more of these incidents have occurred on the Western Shore. In the case of racial terror lynchings, they were done with impunity," Yamakawa said.

These instances included parading the body of the victim through black neighborhoods to instill fear in the community. That tactic was not only used in Maryland, but nationally, primarily in the southern United States, where other confirmed instances were found.

More on honoring black history Negro League baseball history to be honored by Worcester County NAACP, Delmarva Shorebirds

Research into how these lynchings were investigated in Maryland was done by George Mason University in Virginia. Through the use of undercover operatives with the historic Pinkerton Detective Agency, Salisbury became the center of the investigation.

The complete story is told in "The Silent Shore: The Lynching of Matthew Williams and the Politics of Racism in the Free State" by Charles L. Chavis.

"When it comes to conspiracies around these incidents of lynching, you have the inner circle of those who actively took part, the second circle of people who planned it, then there were the people who found out after the fact, and finally those simply heard of it but did not take part," Yamakawa said.

In the case of the Salisbury lynchings, not only did the police chief and fire chief take part, but research by the initiative also found members of the Wicomico County Sheriff's Office were directly involved, according to the presentation at the forum.

More on naval honors for Tubman Underground Railroad conductor Harriet Tubman gets high honor from Navy

Salisbury marks its past of racial violence

During the Sep. 11, 2023 city council meeting when Mayor Heath addressed the move to the former firehouse building, he included a statement and moment of silence entered into the public record concerning history of the property.

"Ladies and gentlemen, tonight we acknowledge the past wrongdoings that have taken place within these walls, particularly the lynching of Matthew Williams. We condemn those actions of anyone who was involved in this incident. Let us now observe a moment of silence in remembrance of Matthew Williams and all victims of racial violence. As we move forward, let us unite in our commitment to creating a safe and inclusive space where everyone's voice can be heard. Our goal is to come together as one community, dedicated to building a prosperous and harmonious Salisbury. Thank you," the statement said.

In 2021, the city of Salisbury and Wicomico County unveiled a plaque downtown commemorating those lives lost to racial violence, including the names listed in the proposed resolution.

The resolution now asks the city to formally apologize to the known descendants of the victims, which include LaTanya Christopher, descendant of Garfield King, and Jeannie Jones, descendant of Matthew Williams, "for the intervening years of silence."

It also asks the city to "formally apologize for its historical role in targeting the larger Black community of Salisbury during and after these acts of racial terrorism," the resolution reads.

Finally, among the requests in the resolution is with the city’s relocation into the historic Salisbury fire headquarters, that "this space which was used in the terror, will be hereby reclaimed as a place of inclusion, fairness and healing."

According to a city spokesperson, the NAACP-drafted resolution continues to be under consideration of the City Council.

More on free blacks and the Civil War Free Black people built an Eastern Shore village. Why descendants want you to know it's here

This article originally appeared on Salisbury Daily Times: NAACP forum tackles Salisbury's violent racial history of lynchings