Legacy Day is a festival that celebrates the rich cultural heritage of African Americans in Kent County, MD. The first Legacy Day was held to honor a community businessman and icon, Charles Graves, owner of the famous Uptown Club in Chestertown. Mr. Graves, affectionately known as “Charlie”, operated the Uptown Club, a night spot that brought some of the hottest acts in popular music to Chestertown from the late 1940s to 1988. The Uptown Club was Kent County’s stop on the legendary “chittlin’ circuit”, bringing notable black entertainers such as Ray Charles, James Brown, Etta James, Little Richard…and many more.
Chesapeake Heartland
Now in its 9th year of celebration, Legacy Day 2022 will honor African American Veterans. The Legacy Day committee has documented nearly 1,700 African American veterans from Kent County, some from as early as the Revolutionary War. Sumner Hall, the producer of Legacy Day, originated as the Grand Army of the Republic Post #25 for Black veterans of the Union Army in the Civil War. Throughout the festival weekend, several events will be held to honor and celebrate the contributions of veterans. On August 1st, an exhibit, Honoring Kent County’s Black Veterans, will open at the Bordley History Center, 301 High Street, Chestertown. The exhibit will feature images and military memorabilia, along with a large panel displaying the names (rank and branch) of veterans from the Revolutionary War to present day and will be on display throughout the weekend. Also of note, members of the Downtown Chestertown Association will feature historical posters in their windows describing Black Legacies: Kent’s 1800’s Heroes.
The Legacy Day weekend celebration will kick off on August 19 at The Garfield Center for the Arts, 210 High Street, Chestertown, with an Honorees’ Program and Reception to include the story of creating the exhibit by Bill Leary and a reenactment by historian Louis Carter. Afterward, there will be a street Dance Party with DJ Real in front of the theater.
Saturday, August 20, offers a full day of events, beginning with a 10 a.m. workshop, Preserving Black History, presented by the Chesapeake Heartland Project at Sumner Hall. Author Jeff Bolster appears at the Garfield Center at 1 p.m. to talk about his book, Black Jacks, that documents the lives of African American seamen in the age of sailing ships, sponsored by Sultana Education Foundation. The afternoon program shifts to Chestertown’s premier waterfront park, Wilmer Park, 413 S. Cross Street, where food and craft vendors will be on hand starting at 3 p.m. Festivities at Wilmer Park will include a Greek Stroll competition featuring members of the Divine Nine (Black fraternities and sororities), a Civil War Encampment of U.S. Colored Troops, and Opening Ceremonies honoring Kent County’s African American veterans. The day will close with a Dance Party featuring music by Comfort Zone and DJ Real.
Sunday, August 21, will conclude weekend celebrations with a panel discussion, Discipline, Distinction, Destiny – the role of HBCU’s in the U.S. Military and American Culture at 12:30 p.m. at Sumner Hall, followed by a 2 p.m. Interfaith Memorial Service at Memorial Park in downtown Chestertown.
All festival weekend activities are offered FREE of charge to the public due to the generous support of co-producer, The Historical Society of Kent County, partner organizations along with individual and organizational sponsors.
For more information about Legacy Day visit: https://sumnerhall.org/programs/legacy-day-2/
