Whaling Captains of Color: America’s First Meritocracy available now.
For bookings, appearances contact fly@hoverflymedia.com
Historic Tales of Oak Bluffs Now Available At:
The Smithsonian National Museum of African American History & Culture in Washington, DC
In Whaling, Blacks Had Power, at Least When at Sea
Published February 2024
The Providence Independent
By Christine Legere
[READ MORE]
The Overseas Railway
Published MaY 2023
MV Magazine
by Skip Finley
[Read More]
Hitching a Ride with History - Captain Dino Ramos
Published MaY 2022
the Vineyard Gazette
by Skip Finley
[Read More]
Return of the Sachem - Leroy Perry
Published MaY 2022
MV Magazine
by Skip Finley
[Read More]
Discovery of sunken Westport whaling ship offers glimpse into little-known Black and Indigenous history
Excerpt “In 2020, Skip Finley of Martha’s Vineyard published the book “Whaling Captains of Color: America’s First Meritocracy” documenting the lives of more than 50 Black whaling captains, including Cuffe himself, who used only captains of color on his fleet of whaling and merchant ships. Cuffe was said to be the richest Black man in the New World at the time.”
Published March 23, 2022
New Bedford Light
by Jack Spillane
[Read More]
Parity and Disparity
Published February 2022
the Vineyard Gazette
by Skip Finley
[Read More]
Celebrating a Chronicler of Black History
Published February 2022
the Vineyard Gazette
by Skip Finley
[Read More]
The Wôpanâak Language Reclamation Project and The Weetumuw School.
PUBLISHED NOVEMBER 2021
Capecodandtheislandsmagazine.com
by Skip Finley
[READ MORE]
How Martha’s Vineyard became a Black summertime sanctuary For generations, forces worked to curtail Black freedom and joy.
Published August 2021
Vox.com
by Lavanya Ramanathan
[READ MORE]
The Bluffs of Wellfleet: Where Radio Began
Published July 2021
Capecodandtheislandsmagazine.com
by Skip Finley
[READ MORE]
A Bell of Freedom
The Reverend William Jackson, of Oak Bluffs, New Bedford, and Philadelphia, was not about
to let bounty hunters return a member of his flock to the land of bondage.
PUBLISHED JuLy 2021
Martha’s Vineyard Magazine
by Skip Finley
[READ MORE]
The Last Voyage of Captain William Martin
PUBLISHED FEBRUARY & MAY 2021
MARTHA’S VINEYARD MUSEUM QUARTERLY
by Skip Finley
[READ MORE]
Oak Bluffs Town Column
PUBLISHED May 2021
the Vineyard Gazette
by Richard L. Taylor
[READ MORE]
Then and Now: Dunmere by-the-Sea
PUBLISHED APRIL 2021
the Vineyard Gazette
by Skip Finley
[READ MORE]
Black History MV: Author, Historian, Speaker Skip Finley
PUBLISHED February 2021
Point B Realty Blog
by Guinevere Cramer
[READ MORE]
A Black Artist’s Haven on a (mostly) White Vineyard
PUBLISHED January 2021
Craftsmanship Quarterly
by Skip Finley
[READ MORE]
Two of the Region’s Whaling Captains of Color
PUBLISHED January 2021
Cape Cod and the Islands Magazine
by Skip Finley
[READ MORE]
Close Encounters of an Oceanic Kind
PUBLISHED October 2020
The Vineyard Gazette
by Maia Coleman
[READ MORE]
Whaler’s journal sent back to New London — 176 years later
PUBLISHED September 2020
The Day
by Brian Hallenbeck
[READ MORE]
Lovecraft Country Episode 7 Syllabus
PUBLISHED September 2020
by the Langston League
[READ MORE]
Freedom and Whaling on Nantucket
PUBLISHED September 2020
National Maritime Historical Society Sea hiStory 172
by Skip Finley
[READ MORE]
M.V. Medal recipients honored
PUBLISHED JuLY, 2020
The Martha’s Vineyard Times
by Lucas Thors
[READ MORE]
Free at Sea but Not On Land
PUBLISHED June, 2020
The Vineyard Gazette
by Steve Donoghue
[READ MORE]
The Charles W. Morgan and Whaling Captains of Color
PUBLISHED June, 2020
The Maritime Executive
by Skip Finley
[READ MORE]
Aye Aye Sir
PUBLISHED May 2020
MV Magazine
by Will Sennott
[READ MORE]
Vineyard Bookshelf: Historic Tales of Oak Bluffs
PUBLISHED AUGUST, 2019
THE VINEYARD GAZETTE
by Steve Donaghue
[READ MORE]
Oak Bluffs by the book
Skip Finley’s “Historic Tales of Oak Bluffs” is a valentine to the town he loves
PUBLISHED AUGUST, 2019
The Martha’s Vineyard Times
by Abby Remer
[READ MORE]
Joseph Dias: Mariner, Hotelier, Activist
PUBLISHED May, 2019
MV Museum Quarterly
by Skip Finley
[READ MORE]
Vineyard Abolitionists Stand Tall
PUBLISHED February, 2019
THE VINEYARD GAZETTE
Commentary by Skip Finley
[READ MORE]
Old Variety Store
PUBLISHED November, 2018
THE VINEYARD GAZETTE
by Skip Finley
[READ MORE]
For Whaling Captains, Diversity Flourished
PUBLISHED August 2018
THE VINEYARD GAZETTE
Commentary by Skip Finley on whaling captains.
[READ MORE]
Captains of Cottage City: The Men Behind the Boom of the Bluffs
PUBLISHED AUGUST 2018
Martha’s Vineyard Museum Quarterly
by Skip Finley
[READ MORE]
When Oak Bluffs was a Real Estate Development
PUBLISHED AUGUST 2018
Martha’s Vineyard Museum Quarterly
by Skip Finley
[READ MORE]
Houses Carry Stories in Each Room
PUBLISHED June 2018
THE VINEYARD GAZETTE
by Skip Finley
[READ MORE]
An Island Apart But With a History of Inclusiveness
PUBLISHED February 5, 2018
THE VINEYARD GAZETTE
by Skip Finley
[READ MORE]
A Groom’s Guide to Style
PUBLISHED January 2018
Marthas Vineyard Island Weddings Magazine
by Skip Finley
[READ MORE]
The History Makers - The Nation's Largest African American Video Oral History Collection
August 23, 2017
The History Makers
Recording Black History on Martha's Vineyard, Filling the Gaps
Published August 24, 2017
The Vineyard Gazette
A groundbreaking project to record the oral histories of 5,000 African Americans has returned to the Vineyard for the second time in its 17-year history, with more than three dozen videotaped interviews scheduled over two weeks.
by Louisa Hufstader
[READ MORE]
Radio Wayne: Where Are They Now? Skip Finley.
Published May 8, 2017
Radio Inc.
Skip Finley: 1994 Broadcaster Of The Year
In 2017, not only is Radio Ink celebrating its 25th birthday, our Radio Wayne Awards also turn 25. The Radio Wayne Awards were started in 1992, the same year The Pulse of Radio became Radio Ink. Chairman Eric Rhoads named the awards after “Radio Wayne” Cornils, and they recognize outstanding performance in radio leadership, management, and sales. In 1994, Skip Finley won the Radio Wayne for Broadcaster of the Year.
[READ MORE]
Black Whaling Captains Found Liberty at Sea
Published January 2017
The Vineyard Gazette
Over nearly three centuries of whaling, some 175,000 men went to sea in 2,700 ships. Of the 2,500 masters who captained these ships, at least 63 were men of color, five of whom are known to have Martha’s Vineyard ties.
[READ MORE]
From War Ships of the Past to Educational Beauties of Today
Published 7/7/16
the Vineyard Gazette
by Skip Finley
[READ HERE]
How Oak Bluffs Became a Summer Haven for the African American Elite
Published June 2016
Town and Country magazine
by Skip Finley
[READ HERE]
Black sea captains of Provincetown risked all for acceptance – and wealth
Published 12/10/15
Provincetown Wicked Local
by Skip Finley
[READ HERE]
No Barriers to Big Dreams Thanks to Trailblazing Political Rockstar
Published January 2015
the Vineyard Gazette
by Skip Finley
[READ HERE]
Two Island Love Stories
Published September 2014
MV Times
by Skip Finley
[READ HERE]
Martha's Vineyard Museum Honors Island's Stewards
PUBLISHED August 2014
the Vineyard Gazette
by Alex Elvin
[READ MORE]
Celebrating History, Sense of Community in Oak Bluffs
Published August 2014
the Vineyard Gazette
by Skip Finley
[READ HERE]
The Alternative Martha’s Vineyard that You Won’t Read About in the Press
Published August 2014
Aljazeer America
by Jessica Harris
[READ HERE]
A Chapter a Day Keeps Retirement Away
Published July 2014
the Vineyard Gazette
by Bill Eville
[READ HERE]
Memories of a Second Mom and Endless Days of Summer at Inkwell Beach
Published July 2014
the Vineyard Gazette
by Skip Finley
[READ HERE]
Not Your Average Ahab
Published 5/1/14
Martha's Vineyard Magazine
Captain William A. Martin of Edgartown was that rarest of things, an African American Whaling Captain.
by Skip Finley
[READ MORE]
Never Too Many ‘I Love You’s’ for This Couple
Published 3/9/13
The New York Times
by Erika Allen
[READ MORE]
The Milfin House : The History of a Summer Home
Published Spring 2011
The Dukes County INTELLIGENCER Vol. 52 No. 2
by Skip Finley
[READ MORE]
2021 winner of the Rodney Houghton Award for Excellence for the best article in SEA HISTORY
John Mashow: From Slavery to Master Shipbuilder and Designer
PUBLISHED March 2021
Sea History: National Maritime Historical Society
by Skip Finley
Digital
The history of Whaling in Massachusetts and the role it played in ending slavery in the Commonwealth | WCVB-Boston
Aired May 17, 2021
William Martin and the Whaling Captains of Color with Skip Finley | MV Museum - Recorded February 2021
WCVB- Boston: CityLine: Sun. Feb. 7, 2021: Skip Finley
Skip Finley author of “Whaling Captains of Color: America’s First Meritocracy,” recounts how countless sailors of color rose to become captains in a lucrative maritime industry during an era where slavery was the only other option.
"Whaling Captains of Color: America's First Meritocracy" by author Skip Finley & host Duncan Oliver | Historical Society of Old Yarmouth
The National Army And navy Club | Washington, DC - Recorded February 16, 2021
Ocean X - The Little Told History of the Black Mariner with Skip Finley
Very few recognize the role African Americans have played in maritime history. Working on privateers and warships provided some of the most opportunities for both free and enslaved men from 1740 to 1865. Because sailors were always on the move they provided information about the world outside of the United States back to black communities ashore. In some cases, they helped smuggle slaves to freedom and black and white sailors coexisted, worked side by side.
WCAI - The point with Mindy Todd
Walk along the streets of Nantucket, Edgartown, or New Bedford and you’ll likely pass by the historic homes of whaling ship captains. These iconic homes are reminders of how central whaling was to economy of this region during the 9th century. However, one important aspect of our whaling heritage has been missing from the narrative: the abundance of people of color who not only went to sea on whaling ships, but rose to the highest rank, that of Captain.
All Of It with Alison Stewart
WNYC
Historical accounts of whaling in America often overlook the significance of Black captains and whalers of color. Historian and 2020 Martha’s Vineyard Medal recipient Skip Finley discusses his latest book, Whaling Captains of Color: America’s First Meritocracy,
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution - The stories we tell: Sea stories from ancient oral traditions to modern day pirates
Ocean Encounters (OE) on “Sea Stories”
The Proceedings Podcast
United States Naval Institute
Historian Skip Finley discusses his new book "Whaling Captains of Color" about the black Americans who pursued the hard road of the whaling industry to avoid slavery.
Nantucket Book Festival At home with the authors: Skip Finley
Skip Finley has the kind of obsessiveness you read about in classic whaling stories. So it's fitting that he should break ground with his book, Whaling Captains of Color: America's First Meritocracy.
Skip joins Matt Stackpole for a virtual Book Talk for the Oak Bluffs Public Library.
Skip appears on Washington DC’s premier bookstore, Politics & Prose with his Whaling Captains of Color editor John H. Kennedy. John is a print journalist for more than four decades and a college instructor for the past 25 years in the U.S., Europe and east Africa. He is the author of A Course of Their Own: A History of African American Golfers, and is currently at work on a book about American war correspondents.
Facebook Live Discussion
with OceanX.org
Skip joins Erika Jarvis and OceanX on Juneteenth to discuss
Whaling Captains of Color.
Money Making Conversation with Rushion McDonald
Appearing on this episode of Money Making Conversations is Skip Finley, Radio Broadcaster, Author of “Historic Tales of Oak Bluffs” and new upcoming book “Whaling Captains of Color-America’s First Meritocracy.”
Stream Skip Finley on his new book "Whaling Captains of Color" - the Joe Madison Show on SiriusXM by SiriusXM News & Issues from desktop or your mobile device
Military History Inside Out with Cris Alvarex Podcast
Maritime and naval history – “Whaling Captains of Color” (Naval Institute Press, 2020) – Skip Finley interview
Tune in on Apple Podcast / Stitcher / Spotify
Joe Madison w/ Skip Finley on Martha's Vineyard by SiriusXM News & Issues
Skip appeared as a special guest on the Joe Madison show on SiriusXM during a special remote broadcast from Martha's Vineyard for the third appearance in August 2019. Skip also appeared as a guest in 2017 and 2018.
WCAI Radio
Finley was interviewed by Brian Morris, host of the widely distributed WCAI radio show, Hidden History for a program aired April 10, 2017.
Listen: http://capeandislands.org/programs/morning-edition-wcai#stream/0
MARTHA’S VINEYARD & THE AFRO-AMERICAN COMMUNITY
Skip was featured in this travel documentary that aired in France and Germany.
Museum Medals Honor Vineyarders Who Give Back
PUBLISHED JuLY, 2020
The Vineyard Gazette
by Aaron Wilson
[READ MORE]
Aye Aye Sir!
One man’s quest to find out more about an African American whaling captain from Martha’s Vineyard ended up uncovering a long-lost history of America’s first meritocracy.
PUBLISHED May, 2020
The Martha’s Vineyard Magazine
by Will Sennott
[READ MORE]
Alicia Carney, Nantucket Book Festival