Black History Made in Chapel Hill

February marks Black History Month, when we reflect on our past and honor those whose contributions and sacrifice built the foundation for creating a more equitable society. Our own backyard has been the backdrop to many of these poignant moments in America’s Black history. Learn more about the events and people who shaped Chapel Hill into the diverse and inclusive community we know today.

Confederate Soldiers in Chapel Hill Surrender

During the Civil War, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s (UNC) president was the abolitionist and pro-Union David Swain. Despite that, confederate soldiers occupied the school which still used slave labor. In April of 1865, Union General Sherman went to Durham to discuss surrender terms with the Confederate army. Realizing the fight was coming to an end and a Union victory was inevitable, the Confederates in Chapel Hill sent President Swain and Wilson Caldwell, an enslaved person and Black community leader, to greet Sherman’s party and surrender on their behalf. Wilson Caldwell went on to be a Chapel Hill town commissioner and lead the University workforce as an administrator.

Gwendolyn Harrison, First Black Woman at UNC

In 1951, Gwendolyn Harrison was accepted into UNC’s doctoral program for Spanish. Upon her arrival on campus, administrators realized she was Black and denied her registration. Not backing down, Harrison sought the help of the NAACP and filed a federal lawsuit against the university. UNC eventually reversed its decision and Gwendolyn Harrison became the first Black woman to enroll at the school. To keep her legacy alive, Glen Lennox named The Gwendolyn office building for her and added a legacy wall in its lobby. In addition, Grubb Properties established a $100,000 scholarship fund in her name.

The Chapel Hill Nine

On February 28, 1960, nine Black students from Lincoln High School sat in a booth at the segregated Colonial Drug store, demanding the same service offered to white customers. Inspired by the Greensboro Four who had begun their sit-ins four weeks prior, the Chapel Hill Nine wanted to get the local community involved in the national fight for social justice. The teenagers were arrested for trespassing and a period of protest and civil disobedience in Chapel Hill had begun. In 2020, on the 50th anniversary of their sit-in, the Nine were honored with a plaque on Franklin Street.

Phillip Clay Helps UNC Increase Black Admissions

In 1964, UNC had a policy of desegregation but was far from being desegregated in practice. Phillip Clay arrived as a freshman that year and found himself one of only a few Black students who were all met with hostility from white students and staff. At a presentation introducing the then-new Research Triangle Park, Clay realized the power of a concrete vision and collaboration between university students and administrators. In 1966, Clay created the Carolina Talent Search to recruit more students of color and successfully lobbied the school to cover expenses for the program. The initiative doubled Black student admissions in 1967 and quadrupled it in 1968, beginning the university’s road to integration.

Black UNC Employees Go On Strike

Throughout the 1960s, the predominantly Black food service employees at UNC experienced inadequate pay, verbal abuse from white supervisors, extra hours forced upon them and random charges to their paychecks. After appeals to the school administration went unaddressed, the workers teamed up with UNC students to organize a strike starting on February 23, 1969. Until December, nearly 100 food service employees refused to work until their demands were met. The governor of North Carolina went so far as to arrest student protestors which only caused more outcry from UNC students and faculty. At the end of the year, UNC met the workers’ demands and the strike ended. This movement set the standard for higher pay and more workplace protections for generations of employees to come.

Howard Lee Elected Mayor of Chapel Hill

Howard Lee made history in November 1969 by becoming the first Black mayor of Chapel Hill and the first Black mayor of a majority white town in the American South. Just a year prior, Lee faced strong discrimination as a Black man in the South – including racists burning a cross in his front yard. Lee and his family fought through a contentious, death threat-filled campaign to earn his election and went on to become one of the most consequential leaders in Chapel Hill history. As mayor, Lee founded Chapel Hill Transit and increased the number of affordable housing units.

Chapel Hill would not be what it is today if not for these brave individuals. As we appreciate how far we’ve come and look to where we must go next, we thank the many people who put everything on the line to create the foundation for a freer and fairer world.