“Fort Mose is one of the most important places in American history, and especially African-American history. It represents the ideals of freedom, democracy, and the aspirations of a people to live their lives fully and to participate in a society with all rights and privileges afforded to them as equal human beings. Their story is all of us. Their story is what Jazz music represents – the willingness to work hard to help make one’s community a better place for all.”

– Scotty Barnhart of The Legendary Count Basie Orchestra