DELMARVA. – Here on the shore lies a deep and telling history of segregation and discrimination.

Historians, like Delaware State University assistant professor, Anton House are untangling and educating our local community about the shore’s troubling past.

“African Americans, even though they were citizens under the 14th amendment, they still had to accept 2nd class, or subservient positions, in order to maintain the differences between races,” said House.

Ocean City, a tourist attraction that attracts thousands of tourists each year, was segregated from 1875 until the mid 1960s, and Black people were only allowed to visit the beach during colored excursion days.

And in the school system, some of the state’s first Black-only schools were established on the shore, like Salisbury High School.

But even after the segregation period on the shore ended, House said some status quos were established to keep the Black population inferior.

“By the time we get to desegregation, there’s this overall analysis of, are these institutions fairly funded under separate but equal? And are they adequate in order to give a Black child the same amount of education as a white child?” said House.

Yet despite the racial hardships African Americans have faced on Delmarva, House said there have been tremendous triumphs that have shattered glass ceilings for the entire community.

“We come from a legacy of sticking our necks out for the world and doing our part to maintain that individuals have access to education, individuals have access to adequate housing, individuals have access to work for fair pay,” said House.