ABOUT OUR JOURNEY
More than 4,000 black Americans were lynched in the United States between 1865 and 1950. At least 40 were in Maryland - of those, one was in Baltimore County.
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In January 2020, residents of Baltimore County and Baltimore City met at Goucher College to begin a dialogue to identify interest in forming a county coalition to honor Howard Cooper, a 15-year old boy, who was lynched in front of the Old Jail in Towson, MD in 1885.
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Through the spring of 2020, a coalition was formed and a Coalition Agreement was ratified in June 2020. The Equal Justice Initiative and Baltimore County approved our plans and an historic marker installation occurred on May 8, 2021.
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On May 8, 2021 an historic marker was installed on the grounds of the Old Jail in Towson, MD, recognized Howard Cooper. An in-person and virtual event, it drew hundreds of participants and provided an opportunity to engage in conversation about an often silenced topic.
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On June 3, 2022 Baltimore County was the second county, in both Maryland and in the United States, to host a Lynching Truth and Reconciliation Hearing. The Maryland Lynching Truth and Reconciliation Commission was established in 2019 by House Bill 307. The Commission is authorized to research cases of racially motivated lynchings and hold public meetings and regional hearings where a lynching of an African American by a white mob has been documented.
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The work continues.
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The Baltimore County Lynching Memorial Project works to honor victims of racial terror lynching in Baltimore County and to confront the legacy of racial injustice experienced by the Black community.
In addition to the installation of historic markers for lynching victims in Baltimore County, our goals include working to:
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Expose the history and continuing menace of systemic racism in Baltimore County
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Lift up the voices of black people, creating a space where all can speak to their own experiences
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Create a shared community vision for advancing racial justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion in Baltimore County
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Work towards advancing our vision for social justice
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Through monthly Coalition meetings and committee meetings, we strive to provide opportunities to continue the conversation. The Baltimore County LMP plans and runs a film series as well as a monthly discussion group to support the work of the Maryland Lynching Memorial Project. These programs are open to residents outside of Baltimore County - and across the country.
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It is clear that the legacy of racism endures in America's psyche and our society. We believe the injuries racism continues to inflict cannot be healed until it is confronted, that is: there must be truth before there can be reconciliation.
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The Baltimore County LMP is one of 14 county coalitions in the state of Maryland that works in collaboration with the Maryland Lynching Memorial Project, a 501(c)(3) organization. To date, there are over 200 individuals who form the Baltimore County LMP, who work in smaller cohorts to plan and run the various events. The Maryland Lynching Memorial Project works to advance the cause of reconciliation in our state by documenting the history of racial terror lynchings, advocating for public acknowledgement of these murders, and working to honor and dignify the lives of the victims.
