Black History Is American History — A Maryland Reflection

By Fitzgerald Mofor | Guest Commentary

Black History Month presents a meaningful opportunity for Marylanders to reflect on reconciliation and civic renewal within American society. From the turmoil of Bleeding Kansas and the Kansas-Nebraska Act to the Civil War that claimed hundreds of thousands of American lives, our nation has endured profound division. Yet the American experiment proved resilient.

February invites us to reflect on leaders who shaped our country during its most trying moments. American Patriots and Radical Republicans such as President Abraham Lincoln, Frederick Douglass, Thaddeus Stevens, Harriet Tubman, and Baltimore’s own Harry Sythe Cummings helped expand liberty and civic participation at a time when the future of the Union hung in the balance.

Black American history is not separate from American history — it is interwoven into the fabric of our constitutional republic. Through individual initiative, education, civic engagement, and moral conviction, Black leaders helped shape institutions that remain central to our democracy.

Maryland stands as a powerful example of this legacy.

Harry Sythe Cummings exemplified the rise of Black civic leadership in Maryland. Born in Baltimore in 1866 to a father who had been enslaved at Hampton Plantation in White Marsh, Cummings built his life on education and public service. He attended Lincoln University and, in 1890, became the first African American to graduate from the University of Maryland School of Law.

At just 24 years old, Cummings was elected to the Baltimore City Council, becoming the first African American council member and the first Black Republican to serve in a predominantly Democratic legislative body.

Councilman Cummings introduced legislation to appropriate $400,000 to construct new schools in his district, alleviating overcrowding and expanding educational opportunity. He also founded Baltimore’s First Manual Training School, emphasizing technical education and career readiness — an embodiment of the self-help philosophy shared by Black intellectual leaders such as Booker T. Washington, Frederick Douglass, and Hiram Revels.

In 1904, Cummings delivered a speech at the Republican National Convention endorsing Theodore Roosevelt. His presence on that national stage reflected a period in which Black civic leaders played visible and meaningful roles in shaping American political life.

Black History Month allows us to celebrate these achievements while recognizing the deep connection between Black history and the broader American story. It reminds us that reconciliation, merit, education, and civic participation remain pillars of a thriving constitutional republic.

Maryland’s history shows us that progress is possible when citizens engage boldly and responsibly in public life.

This commentary is part of MDBayNews’ Black History, American History series, highlighting the interconnected legacy of Black Americans and the broader American story.

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About the Author:

Fitzgerald Mofor, MLS, is a candidate for the Maryland House of Delegates in District 9A. A lifelong Montgomery County resident who now resides in Damascus, he has built his career around public service, civic engagement, and community building. After earning his Master of Legal Studies degree, he committed himself to strengthening local institutions and encouraging active participation in public life.

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Editor’s Note: The following essay is a guest submission by Fitzgerald Mofor, a candidate for Maryland House of Delegates District 9A. As part of our Black History, American History series, MDBayNews welcomes diverse historical reflections and civic perspectives from contributors across Maryland. The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial position of MDBayNews.