Maine Historical Society - Programs Podcast

Seth Goldstein; Recorded February 13, 2025 - Black people and people of African heritage have lived in Maine for more than 400 years, playing a vital role in the shaping of the economy and the history of the state. In the 1800s, many of these individuals worked as farmers, homemakers, drivers, hotel owners, and restaurant keepers, and even more worked in the maritime trades as shipbuilders, fishermen, lobstermen, and sailors. In this talk, Cushing’s Point Museum director Seth Goldstein discussed the fundamental role of African heritage sailors in regional history and examined why the jobs of mariners and shore-related occupations such as longshoremen were important for individuals of African heritage. Seth also addressed how Black mariners participated in the Underground Railroad. Recorded February 13, 2025