This year's speaker Mr. Kent Randell, will present evidence that debunks the myth that freed persons took the name of their most recent enslaver and disentangle the complexities of who and why emancipated and enslaved African-Americans came to acquire their family names. 

In June 2022, Mr. Randell, Archivist and Librarian, looked into this belief and found it to be, in the case of St. Mary’s County at least, a complete myth.  

Learn about Debunking Myths Concerning Surnames During the Era of Slavery.