Delegate Jeffrie Long Jr. Secures Funding For Commemorative Statue Of Harriet Elizabeth Brown

PRINCE FREDERICK, Md. — Calvert County is moving forward with an effort to recognize and uplift a powerful but often overlooked chapter of its history, as Delegate Jeffrie Long Jr. helps advance the creation of a commemorative statue honoring civil rights pioneer and educator Harriet Elizabeth Brown.

State funding totaling $250,000 has been secured to support the statue, which will be placed in front of the Calvert County Circuit Courthouse in Prince Frederick. The funding was included as part of the state budget under Gov. Wes Moore and follows discussions between the governor and Delegate Long during a Cabinet meeting held in Calvert County last year, according to public statements.

Brown, a longtime Calvert County schoolteacher, made history in 1937 when she filed a lawsuit against the Calvert County Board of Education challenging discriminatory pay practices that paid Black teachers less than their white counterparts. Represented by NAACP attorney Thurgood Marshall, Brown’s case became a landmark moment in Maryland’s fight for education equity and helped spur broader reforms across the state.

In announcing the funding on social media, Delegate Long emphasized the historic nature of the project, writing, “Funding has been appropriated to place the FIRST statue of an African American in Calvert County, honoring Harriet Elizabeth Brown.”

County officials said the courthouse location was intentionally selected to ensure Brown’s legacy is visible at the heart of local civic life. They stated the statue is intended to honor Brown’s personal courage and contributions, as well as serve as a broader acknowledgment of the county’s civil rights history and individuals whose stories have often gone untold.

The project has been welcomed by several community leaders and residents as a step toward a more inclusive public record, offering future generations an opportunity to learn about local figures who contributed to Maryland’s progress toward justice and equality.

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