The tale which has become a signature element of Maryland Gov. Wes Moore’s political rise, has fallen apart under closer scrutiny as historical records now cast serious doubt on the dramatic family story he repeats on the national stage. The myth, which Moore often shares as proof that “loving your country does not mean lying about its history,” centers on his claim that his grandfather fled the Ku Klux Klan as a child after his great-grandfather’s sermons angered white supremacists.
Archival documents from the Episcopal Church and contemporaneous newspaper accounts tell a far less dramatic story. They show Moore’s great-grandfather, the Rev. J.J. Thomas, made an orderly transfer in December 1924 from South Carolina to Jamaica, where he accepted a church appointment following another pastor’s death. There is no record he fled secretly, faced Klan threats, or preached prominently against racism.
Moore has repeatedly said his family was “chased away by the Ku Klux Klan,” adding, “Being Black and outspoken was a crime—even if it wasn’t on the books.” He has described a midnight escape in which “they fled.”
Episcopal archivist Amy Evenson explained how clergy moves worked at the time: “Typically, when a clergy member moves from one diocese to another, it is at the request of the clergy member, who works in concert with the new parish.” She added, “All parties must agree that the move is advantageous, which is then approved by the Bishop.”
Newspaper coverage in Jamaica reported that Thomas “laboured in the States for a number of years, and like many other Jamaicans he has returned to his native land to work among his people.” Church leaders in South Carolina praised the Pineville congregation during Thomas’s tenure, noting no disruption from racial violence.
When asked for comment by the Washington Free Beacon, a Moore spokesman dismissed the scrutiny. “The Free Beacon’s fixation on Governor Moore is mildly amusing,” Ammar Moussa said.
As Moore weighs a potential 2028 presidential bid, the myth is drawing renewed attention to how personal narratives intersect with verifiable history.
