Universal Sailing Club supports African-American maritime heritage
Since 2001, Marcus Asante has led one of the Bay’s first African-American sailing clubs
When Marcus Asante first began sailing, he noticed the lack of African-American sailing clubs along the Chesapeake Bay. Asante—a native of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and current resident of Baltimore, Maryland—decided to take action.
To support and educate other African-American sailors, Asante, a marine technician and sailing instructor, founded the Universal Sailing Club (USC), one of the first African-American sailing clubs established on the Chesapeake Bay. Founded in Baltimore in 2001, the club quickly expanded to incorporate members from throughout the Bay.
“We’re lucky to have excellent members who have joined us to learn to sail and be part of this community,” said Asante. “We look at this as a national and global movement of African and African-descended persons and their connection to their local waterways.”
Some of the biggest names in African-American history, including Harriet Tubman and Fredrick Douglass, were located right here in the Bay, Asante explains. Sailing and educating others about it is his way of honoring the history unique to this region.
“Some of those people, like Harriet Tubman’s, that were being freed from captivity—they didn’t all walk to freedom,” said Asante. “Some of them were hidden on boats and sailed to freedom.”
In fact, the Bay’s maritime culture and African-American history are deeply intertwined. After the Civil War, the estuary’s booming oyster industry boasted a wealth of jobs requiring relatively low start-up costs, which lured many newly freed blacks to the region. Alongside harvesting oysters, jobs were found building boats and processing the day’s catches. New communities emerged along the Bay’s shores, becoming economic and cultural centers in the region.
In addition to sailing and running USC, Asante hosts camps to educate youth about the Bay’s history, culture and conservation.
“The Chesapeake Bay is one big organism and we all play a part in the health of it,” said Asante. “It’s a team sport, just like on a sailboat.”
Comments
Hi Connie, I would try contacting the Universal Sailing Club to see what is available: https://www.chesapeakebay.net/news/blog/universal_sailing_club_supports_african_american_maritime_heritage
Hello,
I would love to take sailing classes, do you still offer?
Visit
www.blackchicagosailors.org
Marcus has a keen sense of what youth in Baltimore need to open their eyes, instill a good enthusiasm in looking for careers in the very strong and productive maritime industry, right here in Baltimore. Join me in introducing him to the right people who care enough to be involved, partner with him to proceed in this very productive direction. Get involved in elevating our youth into a productive future.
This is excellent. Thanks to Janet for sharing your work.
Thank you!
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