A powerful new exhibit highlighting Frederick’s Black history is making its way through Frederick County Public Schools (FCPS) and other public spaces this spring.
Created by a group of eleven Oakdale High School students and organized by social studies teacher Kate Ehrlich—Maryland’s 2024 Social Studies Teacher of the Year—the Black History Exhibit Project sheds light on significant but often overlooked aspects of local history.
This year, the exhibit is being hosted in the Central Office’s Board Room, where visitors can explore its 20 banners filled with historical insights. Many of the details included in the exhibit may be new, even to longtime Frederick County residents. The display is divided into four key sections: Slavery, Churches, Racialized Violence, and Segregation.
The student creators believe that Black history is everyone’s history and that sharing these narratives strengthens the entire community’s understanding of its past. To expand its reach, the exhibit is designed as a traveling display, moving through various schools within FCPS and public locations throughout the county.
The project was made possible, in part, by a grant from the Institute for Common Power. Research support was provided by the dedicated staff of C. Burr Artz Library’s Maryland Room and Rose Hill Manor, ensuring the accuracy and depth of the historical information presented.
Stay tuned for updates on where the Black History Exhibit Project will be displayed next, offering more opportunities for the community to engage with this important history.
