The Real Story of Black Martha’s Vineyard (2024)

FAQs

The Real Story of Black Martha’s Vineyard? ›

The first Black people who came to the island were enslaved, servants, and – in the mid 1800s – whalers. (The Northeast was a prominent center of the whale oil trade at the time.) After the economy shifted towards more efficient forms of energy, Martha's Vineyard was reborn as a vacation destination.

Bartholomew Gosnold charted Martha's Vineyard for the British Crown in 1602 and is credited with naming it, supposedly after his infant daughter or mother-in-law (or both) and the wild grapes he found growing in profusion.

One narrative asserts that the name “Inkwell” was used as a pejorative by some whites to describe a beach in Oak Bluffs primarily populated by African Americans from the turn of the century through the Jim Crow era.

Population & Diversity

In 2022, there were 9.5 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (1.83k people) in Vineyard Haven, MA than any other race or ethnicity. There were 193 Asian (Non-Hispanic) and 136 Two+ (Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

It was caused by a recessively inherited genetic mutation that was traced to Kent county, England. Emigrants from that region, some of whom came specifically from an area called The Weald, settled on Martha's Vineyard in the late 17th century.

History. European colonization of Martha's Vineyard began in the 17th century, and the first people of African descent to reside on the island were almost certainly enslaved. Their numbers were small and remained so after slavery was abolished in Massachusetts (1783).

Martha's Vineyard is renowned for its stunning scenery – with rolling hills, wildflower fields, and miles of pristine coastline. It also has some of the best seafood restaurants in New England and numerous activities and attractions that cater to all types of interests.

Islanders/Vineyarders

A person is considered a potential Islander if he/she/they was born, lives, works, visits, or is connected with the Island.

The Martha's Vineyard Wampanoags called the island Noepe, meaning "Dry Land amid Waters," a prescient name given their traditional endeavors of farming and fishing.

The inkwell's origins may be traced back to Ancient Egypt where scribes would write on papyrus. Knowledge of hieroglyphs was at the time highly restricted. Only scribes knew the full array of hieroglyphs and would write on the behalf of their employers, usually the pharaoh.

Who owns Marthas Vineyard? ›

Is Martha's Vineyard privately owned? No. It is an island that is part of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Yes, there are property owners just like there are property owners in any other city, but those property owners do NOT own the island.

Nearly 50 Millionaires on Martha's Vineyard: Data | Martha's Vineyard, MA Patch.

The Wampanoag were the first people of Noepe. The ancestors of Wampanoag people have lived for at least 10,000 years at Aquinnah (Gay Head) and throughout the island of Noepe (Martha's Vineyard), pursuing a traditional economy based on fishing and agriculture.

Does tularemia occur in Massachusetts? It is relatively rare in most of Massachusetts. However, tularemia cases have been occurring every year on Martha's Vineyard since 2000.

Martha's Vineyard Sign Language (MVSL) was a village sign-language that was once widely used on the island of Martha's Vineyard from the early 18th century to 1952. It was used by both deaf and hearing people in the community; consequently, deafness was not a barrier to participation in public life.

Ten young Black professionals and entrepreneurs head to Martha's Vineyard, an island south of Cape Cod that was one of the first beach destinations where African-Americans could vacation and purchase property.

A Beautiful Place to Die: A Martha's Vineyard Mystery

After being forced into early retirement, former detective Jeff Jackson returns to a quiet life on Martha's Vineyard. Quiet, at least, until a body washes up and he's drawn back into crime solving. Stars Jesse Metcalfe, and Sarah Lind.

A new report lays out in stark terms just how many low- and middle-income folks are being forced to move away from Martha's Vineyard as its popularity with wealthy vacationers soars, causing the year-round population of 20,000 to swell up to tenfold over summer.

Martha's Vineyard, island of glacial origin off the southeastern coast of Massachusetts, U.S., 4 miles (6 km) across Vineyard Sound from the mainland (Cape Cod). It accounts for most of the territory and population of Dukes county, Massachusetts.

Many high-profile people have purchased property on Martha's Vineyard, including former first lady Jackie Kennedy, journalist Mike Wallace, television host David Letterman, journalist Diane Sawyer, former chief executive of Colony Capital Richard Saltzman, and film director Spike Lee.