James Lane

James Lane is a respected waterman, folklorist, and local historian from the Lower Eastern Shore of Maryland. Deeply rooted in the region’s maritime culture, he has dedicated himself to preserving and sharing the stories of African American watermen and maritime life on the Chesapeake Bay. Lane’s work includes chronicling first-hand accounts and oral histories that illuminate the traditions, labor, and lived experience of watermen — particularly in documenting the life and legacy of Capt. Kermit Travers, the last known African American skipjack captain, whose story was featured in the book The Last Black Skipjack Captain.

Through his role as a heritage-bearer and community historian, James Lane connects local memory, maritime work, and historic reflection, enriching how the Eastern Shore understands and honors its Black watermen heritage.