New London — New London Landmarks will host “Antoine DeSant and New London’s Black Whalers” at 7 p.m. Aug. 28 at the B.P. Learned Mission Theater, 40 Shaw St.

Fred Calabretta, curator of collections and oral historian at Mystic Seaport, will explore the lives and experiences of DeSant and other black whalers who sailed out of New London.

“Men such as Antoine DeSant represent the important role of blacks and other diverse people whose broad range of racial and cultural backgrounds greatly impacted New London’s whaling industry and contributed an important chapter to the city’s heritage,” Calabretta said in a written statement.

“We’re excited to share the stories of these men who played such a large role in making New London the Whaling City,” said Laura Natusch, executive director of New London Landmarks. “We also want to highlight the importance of Antoine DeSant’s house, which still stands on Bank Street.”

“Antoine DeSant and New London’s Black Whalers” is funded by a grant from the New London Water Authority Community Fund and is sponsored by Dime Bank and Fiddleheads Natural Foods Cooperative.

The program is free to the public and no preregistration is required. For more information, email director@newlondonlandmarks.org or call (860)442-0003.