On Wednesday, Nov. 15, the African American Heritage and Culture Center Board of Directors will welcome an intimate community audience to New Bern Civic Theatre’s Studio for a moving and thoughtful conversation about New Bern’s role in the Civil Rights Era of the ‘60’s.
This event will become part of the AAHC Oral History Library.
This enlightening interview will be recorded in front of a live audience for the oral history library archive and will be led by historian Bernard George. The guests are Ethel Sampson and Barbara Lee. These well-known, admired and respected community members will share personal stories about their involvement in the fight for civil rights for African Americans in New Bern.
Most of us are familiar with national civil rights leaders, like King, Abernathy, Young, and Jackson. However, in towns like New Bern, local leaders guided young people to participate in marches, sit-ins, and boycotts, including then teenagers, Sampson and Lee.
AAHC brings you this interview in an effort to raise awareness of New Bern’s historically significant involvement in the Civil Rights movement in the 1960’s and beyond. The interview will conclude with a question and answer segment with the audience. Donors and supporters and AAHC’s partnership with the New Bern Civic Theatre made this event possible. Tickets can be purchased on the NBCT website. www.newberncivictheatre.org.
About the AAHC Oral History Library
The African American Heritage and Culture Center established the AAHC Oral History Library to curate stories of African American Heritage in our region. It was launched recently with dozens of stories and interviews and is growing. There are remarkable and important stories to tell. Some people only hear the stories of African American families, business, churches and schools during family events or at their dining room tables. These valuable stories need to be moved out into the world. AAHC believes it’s time to assure these stories live into the future. Under the leadership of AAHC former President Carol Bonner Becton, with the support of contributions and a grant from The Harold Bate Foundation, AAHC conducted original interviews in 2022. www.AfricanAmericanHeritageandCulture.org/OralHistoryLibrary.
To submit video/audio interviews contact AAHC at info@AfricanAmericanHeritageandCulture.org
About The African American Heritage and Culture Center
AAHC is based in New Bern and serves communities throughout the region. Founded in 2018, AAHC was incorporated in 2019 as a 501C3 North Carolina Nonprofit Organization. Since it’s founding, AAHC has presented Community Forums, local artist exhibits, music and heritage seminars, and now, The AAHC ORAL HISTORY LIBRARY. AAHC is supported by private contributions and donations and earlier grants from The Harold Bate Foundation, the NC Arts Council and Craven Arts Council. All individual and private trust contributions, donations and bequests are tax deductible as allowed.