"Uncle Nace: The Day Freedom Came" - Living History of Nathaniel Hopkins

Born enslaved, Nathaniel “Uncle Nace” Hopkins carried the scars of bondage but refused to let them define him. During the Civil War, “Uncle Nace” enlisted with the United States Colored Troops, fighting for a freedom he had yet to taste fully for himself. Sent home sick and weary, he returned to Trappe determined to build a new life as a free man not just for himself, but for his entire community. Nathaniel Hopkins set to work building a Church, free black schools, roads and communities here in Talbot County and is responsible for the creation of Maryland’s first Emancipation Day Celebration in 1867 - one of our nation’s very first and the oldest that continues to be celebrated annually.As the first parades marched through dusty streets of Trappe, Nathaniel Hopkins became more than a soldier; he became a leader, teacher, and living reminder that freedom must be celebrated, protected, and passed on. Through his eyes, the Talbot Historical Society and the descendants of Nathaniel Hopkins, in conjunction with professional actor, Darius Wallace, will bring “Uncle Nace” to life to portray his journey from the fields of slavery to the drums of war, to his triumphant creation of Maryland’s first Emancipation Day Celebration in 1867. Event is set for Feb. 24 from 5:30pm to 7pm at the auditorium at Cambridge South Dorchester High School. Free admission!