Current:Home > Contact-usNorth Carolina unveils its first park honoring African American history-Angel Dreamer Wealth Society D1 Reviews & Insights
North Carolina unveils its first park honoring African American history
View Date:2024-12-23 21:01:38
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina state officials joined historians and Black community leaders Wednesday under a sprawling oak tree in the heart of downtown Raleigh for the long-anticipated unveiling of the state’s first park honoring the African American struggle for freedom.
Located between the state Legislative Building and the governor’s Executive Mansion, the new North Carolina Freedom Park stands as a beacon of hope for Black North Carolinians and a reminder of their contributions in the fight for freedom and equality, said park project co-chair Goldie Frinks Wells.
Twenty quotes about freedom line the clay colored walkways of the 1-acre green space, leading to a towering “Beacon of Freedom” sculpture at the park’s center that beckons curious passersby on the hot August day. The metallic sculpture will be lit at dusk each night, illuminating the walls of quotes from Black historical figures and leaders from across the Tar Heel state.
Board members who helped created the park, including retired University of North Carolina history professor Dr. Reginald Hildebrand, said they hope it will spark civic conversations and encourage the state to face all of its history.
“This park is a village of wisdom and courage and strength,” Hildebrand said. “When you come here, you enter and honor the souls of Black folk who are speaking to you, whatever your background and identity may be, whatever challenges you may face.”
The walls of quotes, he said, serve as reminders for the Black community that the battle for freedom and equality is ongoing and “begins every morning.”
Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper said at the ceremony Wednesday that he was most excited for North Carolina students and tourists visiting the capital city to have an interactive learning environment that displays “the brutal truth and extraordinary accomplishment” found in Black history. He encouraged the crowd to applaud legislators from both parties who had supported the project.
Cooper, who is term-limited and cannot run for reelection in 2024, has also played a key role in removing Confederate monuments from Capitol grounds during his six years as governor.
“The Executive Mansion is here,” he gestured. “The legislature is there. The Capitol is there. The courts are right over there. Now, nestled here among the branches of government, amidst the sound and the fury, shines North Carolina Freedom Park.”
The park was designed by the late Phil Freelon and his firm, Perkins + Will, and was built by the Raleigh-based construction company Holt Brothers. Before Wednesday, it had been under construction for three years. But the concept was decades in the making.
The idea for North Carolina Freedom Park arose in 2000 when a group assembled by the Paul Green Foundation, a local humanitarian organization, first brainstormed ways to celebrate emancipation and freedom in North Carolina. Those discussion led to the formation of a non-profit tasked with planning and building a commemorative park in downtown Raleigh, according to the park website.
Greg Milhouse, the father of one of the lead builders, Jordan Milhouse, said he was proud to finally see the product of his son’s hard work and to celebrate his important role in preserving their history. Milhouse said he could not wait to bring his grandsons, friends and other family members to explore the park.
“Instead of wasting idle time, let’s go learn a little bit about our history, let’s go learn a little bit about our struggle, let’s go learn about where we’re going and where we came from,” he said in an interview before the ceremony. “And this is a great place to start.”
___
Hannah Schoenbaum is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.
veryGood! (171)
Related
- Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson weighs in on report that he would 'pee in a bottle' on set
- Motel 6 sold to Indian hotel operator for $525 million
- Were warning signs ignored? Things to know about this week’s testimony on the Titan sub disaster
- Why Bella Hadid Is Thanking Gigi Hadid's Ex Zayn Malik
- Georgia House Republicans stick with leadership team for the next two years
- Google begins its defense in antitrust case alleging monopoly over advertising technology
- Caitlin Clark rewrites WNBA record book: Inside look at rookie's amazing season
- Biden opens busy foreign policy stretch as anxious allies shift gaze to Trump, Harris
- Kyle Richards Shares an Amazing Bottega Dupe From Amazon Along With Her Favorite Fall Trends
- Kristen Bell Reveals Husband Dax Shephard's Reaction to Seeing This Celebrity On her Teen Bedroom Wall
Ranking
- Mississippi expects only a small growth in state budget
- Jessie Bates ready to trash talk Travis Kelce Sunday night using Taylor Swift
- Alec Baldwin urges judge to stand by dismissal of involuntary manslaughter case in ‘Rust’ shooting
- A cat went missing in Wyoming. 2 months later, he was found in his home state, California.
- Hurricane forecasters on alert: November storm could head for Florida
- Dan Evans, former Republican governor of Washington and US senator, dies at 98
- 11-year-old charged after police say suspicious device brought on school bus in Maine
- When does the new season of 'SNL' come out? Season 50 premiere date, cast, host, more
Recommendation
-
Exclusive Yankee Candle Sale: 50% Off Holiday Candles for a Limited Time
-
Carrie Coon insists she's not famous. 'His Three Daughters' might change that.
-
Takeaways from AP’s report on warning signs about suspect in apparent Trump assassination attempt
-
Freddie Owens executed in South Carolina despite questions over guilt, mother's plea
-
After entire police force resigns in small Oklahoma town, chief blames leaders, budget cuts
-
GM recalls 450,000 pickups, SUVs including Escalades: See if your vehicle is on list
-
Did Lyle Menendez wear a hair piece? Why it came up in pivotal scene of Netflix's new 'Monsters' series
-
The Fate of Pretty Little Liars Reboot Revealed After 2 Seasons