In his speech, Nov. 27, 1962, in gym 200 yards S.E., civil rights leader delivered refrain "I have a dream," used in Lincoln Memorial address, 1963.
Topics Related to Civil Rights
African American pastor, Central Baptist Church, 1897-1898, nearby. Was community leader. Wrote key eyewitness account of 1898 Wilmington Coup.
Armed white mob met at armory here, Nov. 10, 1898. Marched six blocks and burned office of Daily Record, black-owned newspaper. Violence left untold numbers of African Americans dead. Led to overthrow of city government & installation of coup leader as mayor. Was part of a statewide political campaign based on calls for white supremacy and the exploitation of racial prejudice.
Former slave. Freedom fighter; Union recruiter and spy; legislator. Led a delegation that met President Lincoln, 1864. Lived one block east.
His Appeal, influential 1829 pamphlet, denounced slavery. A free black, he grew up in Wilmington; moved to Boston by 1825.
Edited black-owned Daily Record four blocks east. Mob burned his office, Nov. 10, 1898, leading to "race riot" & restrictions on black voting in N.C.
First Jewish member of N.C. legislature, 1808. Delivered a landmark address on religious freedom. Lived here.
Pioneer photographer of N.C. and the South. An advocate of equal rights for women. Began career ca. 1904 in this house where she was born.
African Americans boycotted public schools for the 1968-1969 year, challenging desegregation plan to close black schools. In fall 1968 protests were held at courthouse here. Committee of 14 helped devise plan to reopen schools, with the formerly African American schools housing lower grades.
Mass meetings at Green Memorial Church for 32 days, June-July 1963, & nonviolent marches, led to the desegregation of local public facilities.