From the desk of the County Manager,

As February draws to a close, I would like to take a moment to celebrate the outstanding efforts of the Durham County Government staff in bringing Black History Month alive for our residents and employees.

Black History Month was created by the historian Carter G. Woodson and members of his Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (now known as the Association for the Study of African American Life and History), in 1926. Black History Month started off as Negro History Week and expanded to Black History Month in 1976.

The month provides an opportunity to honor the rich contributions, achievements, and resilience of the Black Community throughout history. Durham County is committed to fostering a culture of inclusivity, diversity, and understanding as we strive to acknowledge, learn from, and appreciate diverse narratives that have shaped our collective history!

I’m very grateful that we live in a community that understands Black history and offers everyone crucial opportunities to deepen our understanding of the long list of Black community trailblazers who came before us. I am thankful for the scholars, writers, filmmakers, and all who have presented new information and enhanced our appreciation of what people have endured and overcome.

In early February, the Board of County Commissioners endorsed a proclamation encouraging the community to observe and celebrate Black History Month. The proclamation can be viewed by clicking on the BOCC meeting link.

Durham County Library hosted numerous educational events during the month, providing residents with opportunities to gain deeper insights and engage in meaningful reflection about Black history. These events all highlighted the outstanding contributions that Black Americans have made to our country. Scavenger hunts designed to teach so many things about Black History at library locations, events centered around Civil Rights leaders, our own Durham residents, artists, inventors, and so many more filled up the February calendar!

Some of those event’s titles were enough to make me want to head over to the library immediately and learn more:

• Negro Durham Marches On: An Examination of the Past and Future of Hayti in Durham (you can check out the video at the library on DVD or watch it here!)
• Black Voices of the Past, Colors of the Future
• Her Roots, Our Future: A Black Soil Event
• Black Business Town Hall
• The Other Side of the Story: Community Forum of the Stagville Descendants Council (which continues all through March!)
• Alma Thomas Workshop
• And so many more!

“Diverse programming is an important part of the library’s function, through our programs we can bring experiences, ideas, and exposure to cultural arts, science and technology, that some of our residents may not have had the opportunity to experience if it had not been for the library,” said Deputy Library Director Stephanie Fennell. “The success of the library's Black History Month programming is due to our diverse staff's recognition of the importance of celebrating African American contributions to America.”

On February 25^th, the Office of Equitable Well-Being gave our employees a treat as they welcomed former Board of County Commissioners Chair and Mayor of Durham William “Bill” Bell to come and speak for our second annual Black History Month Lunch & Learn session.

Attendees were captivated by the Honorable Mr. Bell's compelling narratives about his life before Durham, his arrival in the city, and his contributions as a public servant. As Durham's longest-serving Mayor, he led the city for 16 years from 2001 to 2017, following his impressive 26-year tenure as a commissioner, including 12 years as Chair. Mr. Bell played a crucial role in merging the City and County Public School systems and spearheading downtown Durham's revitalization efforts.

“The Office of Equitable Well-Being was honored to host and hear the stories shared by Former County Commissioner and Mayor Bill Bell during our annual Black History Month event,” said Dr. Brent Lewis, Director of Durham County’s Office of Equitable Well-Being. “He shared thoughts and perspectives about the past and challenged us to think critically about what is happening in the present and how we approach it.”

Many know him as Mr. Mayor or Your Honor for his long, distinguished public service career. In January, friends, family, and community members gathered as the former Vivian Street, which runs in front of the Durham Performing Arts Center (DPAC), was renamed William V. “Bill” Bell Way.

Black History Month offers abundant opportunities to engage with and learn from our collective past. Take time to explore the wealth of resources available through films, books, and community discussions – not just in February but throughout the year. These valuable learning experiences help us better understand our shared history and collaboratively shape our common future.

Until next time,

Claudia Hager | County Manager