Pursuant to Article 41. Section 18-307, which was approved by you on May 2l, 1998, the Task Force to Study the History and Legacy of Slavery in Maryland was duly organized for the purpose set forth in this legislation adopted by the General Assembly of Maryland authorizing the appointment of the Task Force.

When you appointed me to chair this Task Force only Seven months ago, I realized that the mission was broad and challenge forniidable, but l was determined to that the Task Force would do the job. and do it on time. At our first meeting, we agreed to adopt a perspective inclusive of (1) a focus on slavery as history, (2) a focus on slavery as legacy, and (3) a focus on the relationships of all Marylanders to slavery.

While slavery thrived in Maryland for two and a quarter centuries, it was officially abolished here a mere 135 years ago. As Senator Clarence Blount of the Task Force has pointed out, even Marylanders whose ancestors arrived on American soil since the ending of slavery have been impacted by the history and legacy of this inhumane institution in that Some of them continue to profit from advantages associated with its legacy while others continue to be disadvantaged by it. Who we are now can never be completely separated from this collective past, however painful it may sometimes be to revisit. A challenge for all lviarylanders in the twenty—first century will lie in leaming appropriate lessons from this part of our legacy even as we redouble our commitment to equal opportunity and civil rights for all whose plight is still oppression. The recommendations accompanying this Report are made in full faith and coniidence that the Governor of the State and the General Assembly, both representing all the people, will unite in seriously considering how best these recommendations may be responded to by which the prosperity of the whole State will be greatly advanced.

Yours truly,
Stefan Goodwin, Ph.D., Chair