UMD Theses and Dissertations

Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://hdl.handle.net/1903/3

New submissions to the thesis/dissertation collections are added automatically as they are received from the Graduate School. Currently, the Graduate School deposits all theses and dissertations from a given semester after the official graduation date. This means that there may be up to a 4 month delay in the appearance of a given thesis/dissertation in DRUM.

More information is available at Theses and Dissertations at University of Maryland Libraries.

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Author: search.filters.author.Black, ImaniSubject: search.filters.subject.African American

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    EXPANDING THE HISTORIC NARRATIVE OF AFRICAN AMERICAN WATERMEN IN CHESAPEAKE BAY COMMERCIAL FISHERIES: PRESERVING CULTURAL HERITAGE AND ENSURING FUTURE AFRICAN AMERICAN MARITIME PARTICIPATION THROUGH A SOCIAL-ECOLOGICAL SYSTEMS PERSPECTIVE
    (2024) Black, Imani; Gray, Dr. Matthew; Shaffer, Dr. Jen; Marine-Estuarine-Environmental Sciences; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)
    This thesis investigates African Americans' historical and contemporary contributions to the Chesapeake Bay commercial fishing industry, employing a social-ecological system (SES) framework to explore their roles, challenges, and the decline in their participation. Utilizing methods such as oral histories, participant observations, and historical analysis, the research highlights the significant yet underrecognized contributions of African American communities to the maritime heritage of Chesapeake Bay. Through in-depth interviews with African American watermen, historians, and community members, the study examines their achievements, obstacles, and the impacts of ecological and social change on their participation trends. Additionally, it assesses the influence of prominent African American coastal communities on commercial fisheries and discusses strategies for future engagement and adaptation in a rapidly evolving industry. The findings challenge prevailing perceptions of marginal involvement by revealing substantial African American participation across various aspects of the fisheries, emphasizing the importance of acknowledging this legacy and promoting diversity and inclusion for industry sustainability. By showcasing the rich heritage and ongoing excellence of Black maritime traditions in Chesapeake Bay, this thesis underscores the critical need for greater recognition of African American contributions to the Bay’s preservation, restoration, and strong ties to the cultural heritage that have built the coastal communities along its shoreline.