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Article by Andre Nieto Jaime  Aerial Photo: Ocean City looking east near Rt 90 Bridge 71st 1960s Scanned by C. Harvey on Scan Master 0, 25.3 x 20.4 cm Edward H. Nabb Research Center for Delmarva History and Culture at Salisbury University Walter C. Thurston Jr. Collection (2016.096) As Ocean City celebrates its 150th anniversary in 2025, it is important to look back and recognize those that helped make it the welcoming resort that it is today. In recent years, much has been done to embrace the town’s Black heritage, most notably through the Henry Hotel and Dreamfest. Historically, African Americans had been barred from vacationing freely in Ocean City, with few establishments being open to them. Employment for African Americans was not any better. They were often restricted to menial labor due to lingering stereotypes and the societal and economic impact of slavery had on Black families. However, Black residents of the Eastern Shore, and Maryland as a whole, were unwilling to tolerate the limitations to their leisure and employment. They had already begun making strides in opposing this in the first half of the century, forcing businesses to ease up on their Jim Crow policies or face a labor shortage. This momentum did not go to waste and storm that hit Ocean City in 1962 provided an opportunity for the city to rebuild as an integrated town. It was because of the determination of activists that Ocean City witnessed its own civil rights movement that occurred alongside the larger movement on the national stage. Ocean City and its beaches remained segregated into the mid-20th century with African Americans only being allowed to freely use the beaches and boardwalk on “Colored Excursion Days” after the season was over. In the early part of the century, these days were heavily stigmatized, with newspapers fanning the flames by unfairly casting Black tourists as a rambunctious, disorderly crowd bringing chaos into the town. According to Palestine Wells in a 1927 article, it wasn’t until the 1910s that Black visitors were allowed to step foot on the beaches and boardwalk unmolested. Needless to say, African Americans were fed up with being unable to enjoy a city in which they labored tirelessly. In terms of employment, few strides were made in Ocean City before 1950. In the 20th century African Americans were restricted in the labor they could perform due to discriminatory hiring practices and economic barriers that often placed them in positions of servitude. The same went for Ocean City, where Black laborers could mostly be seen working as domestic servants and day laborers with a few exceptions. However, Black workers did not simply accept this fate and treatment. Palestine Wells mentions that hotels were faced to relax their Jim Crow practices when they were faced with a labor shortage, demonstrating that Black workers were not going to let themselves be pushed around and taken advantage of. Going into the second half of the century, Black employment remained concentrated largely in menial jobs that had little interaction with the public due to stereotypes that they were unable to work in more demanding positions or those involving the handling of money. The decision to not employ them in “front facing” jobs could also stem from businesses desire to maintain Ocean City as a largely white resort. In 1962, Clarence Mitchell claims that these businesses only had one claim to fame and that was that they only served whites. Having Black workers interact with white tourists in a front facing capacity did not mesh with the image of a “bastion of white supremacy” that was being cultivated at the time. However, the situation was not entirely hopeless. In the past, times of disaster and hardship helped erase color lines in Ocean City and united the community in rebuilding. The first example of this was the infamous 1933 Chesapeake-Potomac hurricane (or just the 1933 hurricane to most) that helped create Ocean City’s inlet. This hurricane left Ocean City, especially today’s downtown area, heavily damaged and flooded. A paper written in the aftermath of the storm describes how “every electric light on the board walk was broken,” buildings were destroyed, and people had flocked to the northern side of the town.  While the situation seemed dire at the time, there was one ember of hope; racial prejudices and tensions were gone, for the time being. One witness, Mrs. Nellie Fax, noted that “all color prejudice was forgotten and Ocean City… became a Utopia of brotherly cooperation,” showing that racial prejudices had eroded much like the sandy beaches of the town. Dealing with the disaster at hand took priority over the color of each others skin. This moment of unity demonstrated that it was possible to tear down the barriers separating the two communities and African Americans of the Shore were determined to achieve it. In 1962, another storm devastated Ocean City and the Atlantic Coast. Dubbed the Ash Wednesday Storm because of the damage it caused on Ash Wednesday (March 7th), this disastrous nor’easter lasted through five high tides, caused millions of dollars in damages, and resulted in the deaths of at least 40 individuals, one of them being in Ocean City. Ocean City, just like in 1933, emerged heavily damaged with over 350 businesses and homes being damaged, 50 buildings leveled, and the protective dunes washed away. Yet, the community was quick to come together to help each other recover and rebuild. The African American community saw this as an opportunity to erase racial prejudices in the town for good
In the week following the storm, James D. Williams in the Afro-American gives an anecdote about a phone call he had with a man named Turner, informing Williams that the governor, J. Millard Tawes, had asked President John F. Kennedy to declare Ocean City a disaster area. This of course would qualify Ocean City to receive federal aid in rebuilding, an idea that seemed inappropriate to Williams. He explained that federal aid is funded by the taxpayer, which includes African Americans. Since and Ocean City is largely “off limits to we colored brethren,” he argues that Ocean City should not receive federal aid. He elaborates that the only way African Americans were welcome in Ocean City was to “put on a white waiter’s coat and keep ‘in his place.’,” or in other words, in positions of servitude. To Williams, it made no sense for the Black taxpayer dollar to be spent on rebuilding a city where African Americans were only welcome to perform what is described as menial labor. His position on federal funding was just one take on the issue of segregation and labor. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) had a similar argument. The NAACP saw this as an opportunity to rebuild Ocean City as an integrated resort. Following the storm, the Maryland Conference of the NAACP sent a telegram to President Kennedy urging him to set a non-discrimination condition for use of federal funds in Ocean City. However, this was misconstrued by the press and politicians as an attempt from the NAACP to withhold relief funding. The organization clarified that this was not the case and that they were asking “only what the constitution requires… non-discrimination,” as a condition for federal funding. Despite being blamed for the failure to pass the Equal Service Bill, the NAACP reaffirmed the need for Ocean City’s funding to be tied to a non-discrimination clause and called on Governor Tawes to continue calling special sessions until equal accommodation legislation was passed. Even Clarence Mitchell, director of the Washington Bureau of the NAACP, believed that the federal funding should be used in a manner that conforms to the constitution and non-discrimination. He asserted that he was going to work on the federal level to assure the constitution was upheld in the usage of the federal funds to Ocean City.  Clarence Mitchell and President Lyndon B. Johnson at the White House after the signing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Courtesy LBJ Library National Archives Around the same time, Mitchell can be seen defending the proposed non-discrimination clause in the Baltimore Afro-American, arguing that if Ocean City was asking the federal government to help rebuild, the government should be doing more than just fixing buildings, but also “the policies of decency” and the “outlook of the discriminators” so that everyone, regardless of color, can enjoy the beaches. That is to say, not only should Ocean City be physically rebuilt, but also rebuilt on a societal level to make it equitable to all. However, it does not appear that any stipulations were specifically placed on Ocean City for any federal funding. President Kennedy had already offered assistance to the affected areas, including Ocean City, by the end of the week. By at least March 9th, when the Maryland General Assembly met for a special session, President Kennedy had sent a telegram to Governor Tawes regarding the disaster. In the telegram, Kennedy explained that “A representative of the Office of Emergency Planning will be in touch…” to help determine how much federal funding was needed and wished the town a quick recovery. That same year, the Army Corps of Engineers conducted Operation Five High to build a protective berm and dune system. The effort to rebuild after the chaos from the storm was a community one, with residents cooperating with state and local authorities, and in less than three months Ocean City was ready to welcome tourists. In the months leading up to the storm, there had been a growing effort to desegregate the Eastern Shore. In December of 1961, Freedom Riders had paid a visit to Crisfield to gain support for the passing of a public accommodations bill. By January, future similar protests were being planned by groups like Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) that stated that they were going to sponsor a protest along Route 50 going to Ocean City in support of desegregation, similar to those along Route 40. When the public accommodations bill failed to pass in March, civil rights groups renewed their efforts. CORE resumed their demonstrations along Route 40 and the Civic Interest Group (CIG) began picketing segregated businesses in Glen Burnie. They also picketed 17 restaurants in Baltimore whilst the NAACP held a meeting in the city.  Meanwhile, back in Ocean City, there was pressure on the mayor, Hugh Cropper Jr., to conduct a poll on integration. This poll revealed that businesses had no plans to integrate that year with Cropper citing the March storm recovery as the reason. In an earlier paper before the poll was conducted, Cropper was reported to have said that the town needed time to recover from the storm before it could integrate. The results of the poll promoted action by civil rights groups like the NAACP and CIG. The Young Democrats also took action by moving their annual convention away from Ocean City to Rockville. This three day convention was to be attended by the state’s top Democrats and members were expected to come out in support of a new public accommodations bill. On top of that, they were also making history by running a person of color as a candidate for state office for the first time in the groups history. Needless to say, losing out on this potential revenue and prestige from hosting state officials and aspiring youth helped convince Ocean City that it was time to integrate.  Freedom Riders March in Cambridge, 1963 Mel Toadvine, “The Cambridge Movement,” Nabb Research Center Online Exhibits Edward H. Nabb Research Center for Delmarva History and Culture at Salisbury University In August of 1962, the chairman of Baltimore’s chapter of CORE, Walter Carter, shared the experience members had when visiting Ocean City. Carter notes that they were able to have a conversation with police officers, eat at two exclusive restaurants, and were able to make use of the beach and boardwalk all without issue. Carter even noted that they had planned a future meeting with Mayor Hugh Cropper to continue negotiations. Seeing that integration was underway in Ocean City, CORE announced a pause to their demonstrations for the time being. The pressure being applied to Ocean City was beginning to yield fruit. By the 1963 season, Mayor Cropper appointed a twelve member bi-racial commission headed by attorney Marcus J. Williams to manage problems regarding race that may arise in the coming summer. Over the first weekend of the commission being established, it was reported that six Black families were able to eat at restaurants without incident. After forming the commission, Mayor Cropper reported that nearly all of the restaurants have integrated. By the summer of 1964, the Ocean City Bi-racial Commission reported to CORE that the town had been completely desegregated. CORE responded by encouraging people of color to put this to the test. It did not happen over night, but in theory, Ocean City’s public accommodations had been desegregated after years of agitation by local civil rights groups.  Walter P. Carter Courtesy of Jill P. Carter Today Ocean City welcomes everyone, but it is important to remember the effort put in to get to this point. While many people had their eyes set on the civil rights movement sweeping the nation, the same fight was being fought here in Maryland and on the Eastern Shore. Groups such as the NAACP, CIG, CORE, and more had been agitating for the desegregation of the entire state. The Ash Wednesday Storm of 1962, much like the storm of 1933, provided an opportunity for Ocean City to change. Only this time the change was not just a physical change, but a societal one. Following the aftermath of the storm, Ocean City had the chance to rebuild as an integrated resort and while there was initial hesitation to do so, pressure from civil rights groups gradually led to change within the city. The Civil Rights Movement of the United States was not one that happened in isolation and it was not one being fought just on the national scale. This was a movement at all levels of government, federal, state, and local. People everywhere across America were united in demanding change in their home towns. While people were fighting to desegregate Baltimore and Washington D.C., there were people fighting in Cambridge, Crisfield, and Ocean City for the same reasons. The movement was not a distant and isolated phenomenon. It was one that happened and created change here on the Eastern Shore. However, while Ocean City was in theory desegregated, there was still the issue of employment discrimination to handle and this was something that was once again tackled by local Black activists in the 1980s and 1990s. References: Primary Sources:
The Associated Press. “NAACP Clarifies Request for Kennedy Action on Aid.” The Evening Sun, March 12, 1962. The Associated Press. “NAACP Official Reproved For Apology.” The Cumberland News, March 19, 1962. The Associated Press. “Five Negroes Are Arrested While Praying.” The Daily Times, May 31, 1963. “Equal Service Bill Just 2 Votes Shy.” The Afro-American, March 17, 1962. “Fight on Negro Excursion.” Democratic Messenger, September 22, 1906. Hunt, Frank. “Crisfield Demonstration Makes Maryland History.” Afro-American, January 6, 1962. Session Laws, 1962 (Special Session 1), House and Senate Journals. Volume 649, Page 241. Maryland State Archives. https://msa.maryland.gov/megafile/msa/speccol/sc2900/sc2908/000001/000649/html/am649--241.html “Md. Young Demos Snul Ocean City.” Afro-American, September 22, 1962. Mitchell, Clarence. “From the Workbench: Descendants of House Slaves.” The Afro-American, March 24, 1962. “NAACP Hits Critics of Telegram.” The Afro-American, March 24, 1962. “NAACP Protests Aid for Stricken Maryland City.” Detroit Free Press, March 10, 1962. “Names of 10 on Biracial Unit Made Known.” The Daily Times, June 3, 1963. “Negro Excursion to Ocean City: Resulted in a Big Drunk and Fighting Afterwards.” Democratic Advocate, September 23, 1905. “Ocean City Answers No to Integration.” The Afro-American, June 9, 1962. “Ocean City Cool to Integration Bid.” The Morning News, May 17, 1962. “Ocean City Integration Poll Taken.” Cumberland Evening Times, May 24, 1962. “Ocean City Reports 100% Desegregated.” The Afro-American, July 25, 1964. “Poll Opposes Resort Integration.” The Daily Times, May 28, 1962. “Says Nordics Note So Brave Eyewitness at Ocean City Storm: Mrs. Nellie Fax Says Race Prejudice Also Melted As Winds Tore Into Community.” The Afro-American, September 16, 1933. Wells, Palestine. “Ocean City – Mecca For ‘Season Makers’ and Girls Seeking Thrills.” The Afro-American, July 23, 1927. Williams, James D. “Sightseeing: In Deepest Africa – Plus Ocean City.” The Afro-American, March 17, 1962. Secondary Sources: Condon, Christine. “Looking Back at Ocean City’s Long History of Segregation.” Baltimore Sun, July 2, 2020. Gardner, Chris. US Army Corps of Engineers. “Fifty-five years later, Ash Wednesday Storm still affects Ocean City – but not how you might think (Part 1 of 3).” Published March 6, 2017. https://www.nab.usace.army.mil/Media/News-Stories/Article/1097937/fifty-five-years-later-ash-wednesday-storm-still-affects-ocean-city-but-not-how/ Gardner Chris. US Army Corps of Engineers. “Fifty-five years later, Ash Wednesday Storm still affects Ocean City – but not how you might think (Part 2 of 3).” Published March 7, 2017. https://www.nab.usace.army.mil/Media/News-Stories/Article/1097964/fifty-five-years-later-ash-wednesday-storm-still-affects-ocean-city-but-not-how/ Gardner Chris. US Army Corps of Engineers. “Fifty-five years later, Ash Wednesday Storm still affects Ocean City – but not how you might think (Part 3 of 3).” Published March 8, 2017. https://www.nab.usace.army.mil/Media/News-Stories/Article/1097993/fifty-five-years-later-ash-wednesday-storm-still-affects-ocean-city-but-not-how/ Maryland Center for History and Culture. “Ocean City: The Great March Storm of 1962.” Accessed March 17, 2025. https://www.mdhistory.org/ocean-city-the-great-march-storm-of-1962/ MD250. “Henry’s Hotel.” Accessed March 17, 2025. https://mdtwofifty.maryland.gov/story/henrys-hotel/#:~:text=Reserved%20periods%2C%20known%20as%20%E2%80%9CColored,remains%20under%20African%2DAmerican%20ownership. National Park Service. “Ash Wednesday Storm of 1962.” Accessed March 17, 2025. https://www.nps.gov/articles/ash-wednesday-storm-of-1962.htm Ruskey, Katie. OceanCity.com. “The Hurricane of 1933: Ocean City, Maryland.” Published October 9, 2022. https://www.oceancity.com/the-hurricane-of-1933-ocean-city-maryland/
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