Topics Related to African American History

Hugh Cale 1835-1910 (A-80)

Sponsored the 1891 bill to establish present-day Elizabeth City State University; legislator, 1876-80, 1885, 1891. His grave is 6/10 mile west.

Harriet Jacobs c. 1813-1897 (A-72)

Fugitive slave, writer, & abolitionist. Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl (1861) depicts her early life. Lived in Edenton.

Joseph C. Price 1854-1893 (A-61)

Negro orator and teacher. A founder and president of Livingstone College. Born in Elizabeth City. House was 2 miles S.

Chowan Academy (A-58)

Founded in 1886 for blacks by Calvin S. Brown, pastor, Pleasant Plains Baptist Church. Later a public school named for Brown.

George W. Brook (A-54)

Federal judge whose writ of habeas corpus, 1870, prevented arbitrary arrest of N.C. citizens during Reconstruction. Home was 1/4 mile east.

Mount Lebanon Church (A-43)

A.M.E. Zion. Organized about 1850 as mission to serve black Methodists. Since 1856 congregation has met 1 1/2 blocks N.

Elizabeth City State University (A-37)

Founded in 1891 as Negro normal school. Four-year college after 1939. Became a university in 1969.

Durham's Blues Legend Blind Boy Fuller

“Blind Boy Fuller”

Henry Frye: First African-American on the N.C. Supreme Court

On February 3, 1983, Henry Frye was sworn in as North Carolina’s first African-American Supreme Court Justice. Governor Jim Hunt appointed Frye as an associate justice.

Maceo Parker of Kinston Brought the Funk

On February 14, 1943, saxophonist Maceo Parker was born in Kinston. Perhaps best known for his work with James Brown, Parker brought funk to the soul music of the James Brown Band. For nearly 20 years, Brown’s call “Maceo, I want you to Blow!” summoned his unique sound.