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- Malaga Island: A Story Best Left Untold
- From
- Rob Rosenthal
In 1912, the state of Maine evicted a mixed-race community of about forty-five people from Malaga Island, just off the coast of Phippsburg. It was an act of racism, eugenics, and political retribution.
Eight islanders were committed to the Maine School for the Feeble-Minded. The rest managed as best they could. The state moved the island school to another island. Then they dug up the graves and reburied the remains in the graveyard at the Maine School.
The Malaga community was erased.
For generations, descendents feared to speak about what happened to their families because of the local stigma of mixed-blood and feeble-mindedness. Others in Phippsburg would rather forget the incident - a story best left untold, some say.
This is that story.
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Piece Description
In 1912, the state of Maine evicted a mixed-race community of about forty-five people from Malaga Island, just off the coast of Phippsburg. It was an act of racism, eugenics, and political retribution.
Eight islanders were committed to the Maine School for the Feeble-Minded. The rest managed as best they could. The state moved the island school to another island. Then they dug up the graves and reburied the remains in the graveyard at the Maine School.
The Malaga community was erased.
For generations, descendents feared to speak about what happened to their families because of the local stigma of mixed-blood and feeble-mindedness. Others in Phippsburg would rather forget the incident - a story best left untold, some say.
This is that story.
2 Comments
|
nice pieceNicely done. How do I see the photos? I will check out the website. Terry Foss |
Broadcast History
This program was updated in 2012 for the 100th anniversary of the eviction. It received a 1st place award from the Maine Association of Broadcasters in 2009.
Musical Works
| Title | Artist | Album | Label | Year | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frame | Kaki King | Legs To Make Us Longer. | Sony | 2004 | 00:00 |
| You Don't Have to Be Afraid | Kaki King | Until We Felt Red. | Velour | 2006 | 00:00 |
| Soft Shoulder | Kaki King | Until We Felt Red. | Velour | 2006 | 00:00 |
| Alexander's Ragtime Band | Arthur Collins and Byron Harlan | public domain. | 00:00 | ||
| Six Days at the Bottom of the Ocean | Explosions in the Sky | The Earth is Not A Cold Dead Place. | Temporary Residence | 2004 | 00:00 |
| Can I Be Forgiven? | Gustavo Santaolalla | 21 Grams Soundtrack. | Varese Sarabande | 2003 | 00:00 |
| Did This Really Happen? | Gustavo Santaolalla | 21 Grams Soundtrack. | Varese Srabande | 2003 | 00:00 |
| Homesickness Blues | Nora Bayes | That Devilin' Tune: A Jazz History (1895-1950) Vol. 1. | Music and Arts Program | 2006 | 00:00 |
| Memorial | Explosions in the Sky | The Earth is Not A Cold Dead Place. | Temporary Residence | 2006 | 00:00 |
| Ahuvati | Kaki King | Until We Felt Red. | Velour | 2006 | 00:00 |
| Your Hand in Mine | Explosions in the Sky | The Earth Is Not A Cold Dead Place. | Temporary Residence | 2006 | 00:00 |
Additional Credits
Kate Philbrick, Project Photographer
James Hoban, Project Web Designer
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barb rippon
Posted on January 03, 2010 at 06:27 PM | Permalink
Interesting.
A bit off the beaten path as far as style.