Sankofa Mobile Museum - Held in the Parking Lot

The Sankofa Mobile is a multi-technical experience that shares the historical stories of African American families and their journeys in Maryland. This stand-alone exhibit is presented in celebration of Emancipation Day in Maryland.

Exhibit Information:

Our Own Liberators: The Butler Family's Fight for Liberty and Justice
Can people make advances in civil rights by operating in a biased system? How do we determine what laws are just and what laws are not? The Constitution protected slavery when it was originally written, yet enslaved people challenged the nation's founding documents. Long before the famous Dred Scott Supreme Court Case, Black Americans sued for their freedom, and sometimes won. The Butler Family from Prince George's County were among those who did just that. Explore the various ways enslaved people resisted oppression. Find out how the Butlers stood up against a Supreme Court Justice. (Recommended for ages 10 and up)

To Make Her Own Way: A Free Black Woman's Fight for Equality in Early America
Imagine being treated like a second-class citizen in your own country. How do you protect yourself when laws do not protect you or guarantee you justice? Is it worth standing to powerful interests? Margaret Adams, a free Black woman, owned her own tavern in 1800's Prince George's County. While most Black Marylanders were enslaved, Margaret Adams defied the slaveholding society and built a successful businesses. Explore the world of Margaret Adams and see how she resisted one of Maryland's most powerful families. (Recommended for ages 12 and up)

Please note: The library opens at 10:00 a.m., and entry to the building will not be available prior to that time.