John Dickinson Plantation hosts community town hall with Southern Delaware Alliance for Racial Justice

On Sept. 18, the Delaware Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs (HCA)’s John Dickinson Plantation, in partnership with the Southern Delaware Alliance for Racial Justice (SDARJ), held a public town hall at the Lewes Public Library to provide members of the community a chance to learn more about the work of the John Dickinson Plantation, as well as about the historic site’s partnership with SDARJ in an effort to expand interpretations of the lives of the people who lived, worked and died on the plantation.

The meeting was led by Gwendolyn Miller of SDARJ and Gloria Henry, John Dickinson Plantation’s site supervisor, and included contributions from HCA staff and a video presentation from the International Coalition of Sites of Conscience. Both Miller and Henry gave presentations, which were preceded by historical context from John Dickinson Plantation Lead Historic Interpreter Annie Fenimore.

Following the presentations, attendees were invited to participate in a question-and-answer session and a survey to have their concerns heard and questions addressed. These surveys, as well as the town hall itself, serve to open conversations between John Dickinson Plantation, SDARJ and the public that will guide the site’s interpretation of underrepresented histories. 

“Addressing the Silences” is a transformative project headed by the International Coalition of Sites of Conscience, and is dedicated to researching and sharing the stories of groups often excluded from the traditional historical narrative. The project brings together 13 museums from across the United States, of which John Dickinson Plantation is one.

In reference to the plantation’s partnership with SDARJ, Henry said in an interview with CoastTV: “We can not do it alone. We should not be doing it alone. We should be involving the community to help us explain some of these events.” 

For additional information about Addressing the Silences and John Dickinson Plantation’s work with SDARJ and the International Sites of Conscience, please contact the museum at jdpmuseum@delaware.gov.