
About this episode
This episode explores the impact of free press and freedom of speech on Marylanders, particularly focusing on the legacy of the Baltimore Afro-American newspaper and its significance to Black Marylanders.
May's Revolution@250 episode is here, focusing on the free press – and how ideas around free expression and freedom of speech impacted generations of Marylanders. We’ll explore how this core value of the revolutionary generation was embraced by Black Marylanders and the legacy of the Baltimore Afro-American , the longest-running African-American family-owned newspaper in the United States, established in 1892. Joining us today is Savannah Wood, an artist with deep roots in Baltimore and Los Angeles. As the Executive Director of Afro Charities, Wood is leading the charge to increase access to the 130+-year-old AFRO American Newspapers ’ extensive archives. In this role, she has shepherded the organization through a period of historic growth, initiated new programming, and attracted support from national funders including the Mellon Foundation, the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts and The Ruth Foundation. In this conversation, we’ll explore how the landscape of a free press in Maryland evolved, the challenges faced by the founders of the Baltimore Afro-American , and how the revolutionary concept of free speech was utilized by Black Americans to advocate, develop…
People in this episode
Guest: Savannah Wood
Topics covered
- free press
- freedom of speech
- Black Marylanders
- Baltimore Afro-American
- community advocacy
- historical growth
Keywords
- free press
- freedom of speech
- Baltimore Afro-American
- Black Marylanders
- Afro Charities
- historical archives
- community advocacy
- Maryland history
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Baltimore Afro-American, Afro Charities, Mellon Foundation, Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, The Ruth Foundation
Places: Maryland
More episodes of PreserveCast
- Maryland's Agricultural Heritage with Secretary Kevin Atticks · June 1, 2026 · 41 min
- We Make History with Jennifer Sieck · May 19, 2026 · 37 min
- Women Who Watched the Skies with Anne Dobberteen · May 11, 2026 · 41 min
- Developing Multi-Sensory Experiences with Dr. Cheryl Fogle-Hatch · May 4, 2026 · 36 min
- Ep. 4: We're Still Here · April 30, 2026 · 38 min
- Finding Your Roots with Athina Ramphal · April 27, 2026 · 37 min
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the PreserveCast podcast page.