The Hidden Black Society They Don’t Teach You About
Deep in the Great Dismal Swamp, thousands of Black people created a hidden free society, one that defied slavery for centuries. This is the story of the rebels who turned a swamp into a sanctuary.
This episode of In The Margins is part of PBS’ America@250 collection, celebrating the country’s 250th anniversary. Democracy is built on participation. Get involved at https://vote.org/pbs
In The Margins is a series that covers the history they didn’t teach in school, exploring obscure, yet captivating tales that offer unique insights into their time and place.
Sources used in this episode:
-Dismal Freedom, A History of the Maroons of the Great Dismal Swamp by J. Brent Morris
-Slavery’s Exiles, The Story of the American Maroons by Sylviane A. Diouf
-Armed in the Great Swamp: Fear, Maroon Insurrection, and the Insurgent Ecology of the Great Dismal Swamp by Kathryn Benjamin Golden
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@sharonwright6563
May 30, 2026 at 9:39 pm
Thanks for this history lesson.
@filaspeaks1094
May 30, 2026 at 9:39 pm
foundational black americans are the indigenous americans, native tribes didnt " likely" lead them to the swamps, you never tell a story with the word likely that means you dont know the truth and you are pushing a false narrative, black americans have been in north america for thousands of years and was later reclassified as black , negro, mulatto, color, african american atc. through several reclassification acts that ARE DOCUMENTED!! native americas are asians who came late through the baron strait, stop this false narrative about native americans, they are not indigenous
@NancyYager-u8o
May 30, 2026 at 9:39 pm
I don't get it. Where is the Chesapeake bay and Delmarva peninsula on this peculiar map? And, where geographically was this swamp?!
@4Deliver4
May 30, 2026 at 9:39 pm
Nobody should ever be able to "grant freedom" to ppl. There should be no caste system, and no owning ppl
@SamuelKiarie12
May 30, 2026 at 9:39 pm
🌴 🌳 🌲 The thief's purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life."
–John 10:10
@Seafishing-f1t
May 30, 2026 at 9:39 pm
I can’t wait until the world realises who the real chosen people are.
@HomeschoolFaye
May 30, 2026 at 9:39 pm
PBS stay putting us on! 🙌🏾🙌🏾
@Uzoth_bloxfuits
May 30, 2026 at 9:39 pm
cary academy
@sarahpardue3703
May 30, 2026 at 9:39 pm
A North American Palmares! Amazing!
@bufflowsouljah2256
May 30, 2026 at 9:39 pm
Some of my ancestors were not slaves,but victims of human trafficking. Side note. We are not "black" In the 1600 and 1700's is when the European colonial expansion began and so they created race classifications and race hierarchies. Before that time people were known by tribe,kingdom,religion or country, not by black,white,yellow. People accept being called black because of lack of education. Now that I have educated ,what shall you call yourself now? Black, because that is the way the devil trained you. Bimbi spoke truth to Malcom X about the word black too. Why else would jealous men lable a race after an word of dark definitions. BLACK PEOPLE? Ok
@wandamcarn4286
May 30, 2026 at 9:39 pm
Thank you for this wonderful history!
@brila6865
May 30, 2026 at 9:39 pm
This sounds similar to the black community story from the series Free State of Jones
@chariblackwood5056
May 30, 2026 at 9:39 pm
I hate the white washed history I waisted my time learning in school. Thank you PBS for the truth ❤
@ECRWriter
May 30, 2026 at 9:39 pm
Do Palmares next!
@ECRWriter
May 30, 2026 at 9:39 pm
4:50 Could you tell us what a labor camp is, and why people could get their living from it (i.e. keep the money/food/resources they get)? I don't understand why the father stayed away.
@artistjazz
May 30, 2026 at 9:39 pm
Pocohontas Island in Petersburg, Virginia- we just bought a house on the island- amazing history and amazing people.
No wonder "they" thought they were a threat. I have neighbors who are so threatened by people of color that they go out of their way to be nasty.
No one wants to be stuck beside someone nasty- but chasing these people even into the swamp? That's a different level of low.
leave people alone.
dont poke the bear.
@unphadableresilience91
May 30, 2026 at 9:39 pm
My Ancestors are dope Asé!
@robertfindley921
May 30, 2026 at 9:39 pm
Keep in mind all these white slave owners were acting with good intentions per the bible. They vehemently pointed to the bible as justification for their actions. By the will of God. They were absolutely positive it was the runaway slaves that were committing sacrilege.
@LuciThomasHardylover-qx6ts
May 30, 2026 at 9:39 pm
Are the audience considered so dull witted that they need cartoon to illustrate the explanation??🙄 Surely just some footage of the landscape would be more illuminating? Or the snakes?
@wombat.6652
May 30, 2026 at 9:39 pm
Thank you.
@KarenHeard-ur3js
May 30, 2026 at 9:39 pm
However, an effective president demonstrates a sense of personal virtue in a manner that does not compromise the moral status of the people and the office. In comparison, a demagogue is someone who demonstrates questionable morality and vice. The president must not abuse his power for personal gain, while a demagogue will seek to manipulate to the highest extent possible. While a president unites the people as a moral leader, a demagogue plays on their fears and seeks to divide to achieve greater control.
@Liam-y1k1k
May 30, 2026 at 9:39 pm
Don't care.
@LeftEarth2
May 30, 2026 at 9:39 pm
The USA needs another Civil Rights Era and another Black Power movement!
✊🏿🗽 "Power to the people!"
@Ilikebeenz12
May 30, 2026 at 9:39 pm
I live 15 minutes away from the great dismal swamp. It’s amazing, so much diversity in plants and animals, and big enough to escape all the sounds of civilization. Lots of ticks though
@SFbayplayway
May 30, 2026 at 9:39 pm
wow
@Hud-y5e
May 30, 2026 at 9:39 pm
I’m getting emotional over this information . We were much more resilient than they portrayed us to be.
@Mystiic_Adilgashii
May 30, 2026 at 9:39 pm
Here comes the BLACKS in the comments who claim to be the original Indians of America 🤣
@kenwood796
May 30, 2026 at 9:39 pm
I never knew 😢… they still tried to go get em to the LeQuint Dickey Mining Company!!!🤬
@solomoon3083
May 30, 2026 at 9:39 pm
The history of this country is truly embarrassing for a specific group. There is a moment when you finally realize that there is nothing to celebrate about that particular lineage and America as a whole. Those who need to hear this information the most, will likely never click on this video.
@DeltaChi16
May 30, 2026 at 9:39 pm
❤
@Kid_Kinetic
May 30, 2026 at 9:39 pm
Still saying Black smh
@Melvin-r5y
May 30, 2026 at 9:39 pm
WE ADOS w/o Nationality! "Hidden & Misused/Abused by all USA Citizens w/Nationality! WE ADOS xClear! "Reparation" ID Cards! "Black"?! What does that mean?! WE shoes "Black"! 😂"WE" ADOS xClear! WE ADOS USA Congressionally Provided Researched & Distributed USA Owed "Reparation" ID Cards! See! "Black Confederacy MAGA"! 😂https://youtu.be/aqQgHgDrYTI?si=JHpvMXqCIGMVS5ny