Black History of Maine with Bob Greene

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Bob Greene, 2021 recipient of the Maine Historical Society’s Neal Allen Award, will be presenting his talk “Black History of Maine” at the Lewiston Public Library on Tuesday, January 25th. This free, public program will begin at 5:30 PM on Zoom and livestreamed to the Library’s Facebook page.

It is frequently said that Maine is the whitest state in America, yet Black people have a long history in the Pine Tree State. Yes, there were slaves, but there were also builders, farmers, fishermen, ship captains, educators, and more. It’s that hidden history of our state that Greene will reveal in his presentation.

Bob Greene, Portland native, is the eighth generation of his family to be born in Cumberland County. His roots in Maine stretch back into the 1700s. After graduating from Portland High School, Greene went off to college and a career as a journalist covering, among other things, airplane crashes, Mississippi River floods, and the funeral of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. As The Associated Press Tennis Writer, Greene traveled the world covering the sport. After retiring he returned home to Maine where his genealogical research has led to his deep knowledge of Maine’s Black history. He currently teaches a Black History of Maine course at OLLI (Osher Lifelong Learning Institute) at the University of Southern Maine. Greene is also the 2021 recipient of the Maine Historical Society’s Neal Allen Award, which is presented each year for exceptional contributions to Maine history.

Admission is free. Registration is required for those participating on Zoom.

More information on this program is available by contacting the Lewiston Public Library at LPLReference@LewistonMaine.gov or 513-3135.

Black History of Maine with Bob Greene is a virtual program sponsored by the Lewiston Public Library. The Lewiston Public Library is located downtown at 200 Lisbon Street at the corner of Pine Street.