Emancipation and Empowerment: Chapel Hill Black History Icons

Black History Month is a time that calls for reflecting on our past and recognizing those who have broken barriers to improve society. We are very grateful for the individuals who have sacrificed so much and inspired progress in the community. In honor of Black History, we’ve recapped the contributions of some of Chapel Hill’s finest leaders.

Wilson Caldwell

Before the Civil War, Wilson Caldwell was a slave on the UNC-Chapel Hill campus. When General Sherman’s troops came to Chapel Hill in 1865, Caldwell was sent to meet him and surrender on behalf of the town. After the war, Caldwell served as a justice of the peace, was elected to be a Chapel Hill town commissioner and ran schools for Black children. He returned to work at the University in 1884, this time in the administration as head of the University workforce.

Floyd Council

Floyd Council was a “Piedmont blues” guitarist, mandolin player and singer who spent his entire life in Chapel Hill. He began his musical career on the streets of Chapel Hill in the 1920s, performing with two brothers as the “Chapel Hillbillies,” and famed Durham musician Blind Boy Fuller. Council’s music was so influential that he inspired musicians for decades. The 1960s and 70s rock band “Pink Floyd” dedicated half their name to Floyd Council.

Billy Strayhorn

Duke Ellington’s longtime collaborator, Billy Strayhorn is among the most influential figures in jazz history. A gifted composer and pianist, Strayhorn grew up and developed his love for music here in Orange County. He joined Ellington’s orchestra at age 24 and worked with Ellington for the rest of his life. Strayhorn was an inspiration on his generation of musicians and was active in the civil rights movement as a friend of Martin Luther King Jr.

Gwendolyn Harrison Smith

In 1951, Gwendolyn Harrison Smith was accepted to UNC-Chapel Hill as a doctoral student in Spanish. Upon her arrival, she was told by University officials that she would not be able to attend due to her race. With the aid of the NAACP, Smith filed a federal lawsuit. Just over a month after being denied by the school, she became the first Black woman to enroll at UNC-Chapel Hill. Glen Lennox’s Gwendolyn office building is named in her honor.

Charles Scott

Charles “Charlie” Scott grew up in Harlem, New York, but is best known around here as the first Black scholarship athlete at UNC. Under head coach Dean Smith, Scott played basketball for the Tar Heels from 1967 to 1970. Scott averaged 22.1 points and 7.1 rebounds per game in his college career, was a two-time All-American and a three-time all-ACC selection. In 1968 and 1969, Scott led the Tar Heels to Final Four appearances in the NCAA Tournament.

Hubert Davis

Representing history in the making, Hubert Davis is the first Black head coach of UNC men’s basketball. Davis was recruited by Dean Smith and Roy Williams to play for North Carolina from 1988 to 1992 and set the record for highest three-pointer percentage in team history. After a successful NBA and television analyst career, he returned to UNC basketball in 2012 as an assistant coach. In 2017, he served on the staff when UNC won its sixth NCAA tournament and seventh national championship. Upon Roy Williams’ retirement, Davis was named head coach and is currently in his first season.

The impact each of these people made and continue to make is immeasurable. They set the stage for future advancement towards an equitable society, and they are just six examples of the many Black icons to make a mark in Chapel Hill. It takes all of us to continue progress.