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HISTORY

Blackface

In Maryland the escape of slaves to the British fleet was becoming such an event that the locals began to lay traps for the unsuspecting British Royal Navy. In one such incident, locals dressed in blackface rowed into the bay any waved to the British fleet. The ships sent several officers in small boats to meet the escaped slaves.

Upon close approach, the British officers could see that the occupants were only wearing blackface and ordered a return to their fleet. At that point the locals opened fire from positions on shore, killing two British sailors.