North Carolina : Esse Quam Videri

North Carolina is a state located in the southern region of the United States. North Carolina is bordered by South Carolina to the south, Virginia to the north, and Tennessee to the west. The Atlantic Ocean lies to the east of North Carolina.

North Carolina is divided into 100 counties. The largest county in North Carolina is Wake County, which is home to the city of Raleigh, the state capital. North Carolina’s population is just over 10 million people, making it the 28th most populous state in America.

The economy of North Carolina is fairly diverse, with agriculture, manufacturing, and tourism all playing significant roles. North Carolina is a leading producer of tobacco and textiles. The state is also home to several major banks and financial institutions.

Tourism is a vital part of North Carolina’s economy, with visitors flocking to the state’s many beaches, mountains, and other attractions. North Carolina is home to the iconic Wright Brothers National Memorial, as well as the popular Biltmore Estate.

North Carolina has a long history, dating back to the early days of European exploration and settlement. North Carolina was one of the original thirteen colonies that formed the United States of America. The state played a significant role in both the American Revolution and the Civil War.

North Carolina has a complex history when it comes to race relations and civil rights. The state was home to many slave plantations in the antebellum era, and was also the site of several bloody battles during the Civil War. In the Jim Crow era, North Carolina implemented some of the most discriminatory and oppressive laws in the country.

African Americans were effectively barred from voting, holding office, or enjoying many of the same rights as white citizens.

The Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s brought about significant change in North Carolina, as well as the rest of the country. African Americans finally gained the right to vote and participate fully in society. Despite these advances, racism still exists in North Carolina today. African Americans continue to face disparities in education, employment, and income. North Carolina is also home to a large number of Confederate monuments and symbols, which some believe glorify the state’s history of slavery and racism.

Racism has been a deeply ingrained problem in North Carolina, just as it has been in many other parts of the United States. The roots of racism in North Carolina go back to the time of European colonization, when European settlers began to enslave and oppress Native American populations. Later, as African slaves were brought to the colony to work on tobacco plantations, North Carolina became a major hub of the slave trade. This history of slavery, oppression, and segregation has left an indelible mark on the state, and it is important to understand the history of racism in North Carolina in order to appreciate the ongoing struggle for racial justice.

The history of racism in North Carolina is deeply intertwined with the history of slavery. The state was one of the major slaveholding states in the United States, and many of its most prominent families owned slaves. As the state’s economy grew on the back of the slave trade, the practice of slavery became deeply ingrained in North Carolina society. Even after the Civil War, when slavery was abolished, North Carolina continued to struggle with issues of racial inequality and oppression.

During the era of Jim Crow laws in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, North Carolina became a hotbed of racism and discrimination. Segregation was enforced by law, and African Americans were denied the most basic rights, including the right to vote and access to public facilities. Schools, restaurants, and other public accommodations were strictly segregated, and African Americans were often subject to violence and intimidation if they attempted to challenge the status quo.

One of the most infamous incidents of racial violence in North Carolina occurred in Wilmington in 1898. A group of white supremacists, led by the Democratic Party, overthrew the elected government of Wilmington, which was majority African American. The white supremacists burned down black-owned businesses and homes, killed dozens of African Americans, and forced many others to flee the city. The Wilmington massacre was a defining moment in the history of racism in North Carolina and a stark reminder of the violence that has been used to enforce racial oppression.

The civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s saw African Americans in North Carolina and across the country challenging the entrenched system of racial inequality. The movement was met with fierce resistance, and North Carolina was no exception. Civil rights activists faced violence, intimidation, and arrest as they struggled to win basic rights and protections for African Americans. The struggle for civil rights in North Carolina was marked by some significant victories, such as the desegregation of public schools and the passage of the Voting Rights Act, but progress was slow and hard-fought.

Even in more recent times, North Carolina has struggled with issues of racism and discrimination. In 2016, the state passed a controversial voter ID law that was widely seen as an attempt to suppress African American votes. The law was eventually struck down by a federal court, but it was emblematic of the ongoing struggle for racial justice in North Carolina.

Today, North Carolina remains a state deeply divided by issues of race and racism. African Americans continue to face significant disparities in areas such as education, employment, and access to healthcare. Police brutality and racial profiling remain major issues, as evidenced by the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis in 2020, which sparked protests across the country, including in North Carolina.

In recent years, there have been some positive signs of progress in the struggle for racial justice in North Carolina. Activists and community organizers have worked to push for police reform, to challenge systemic racism in the criminal justice system, and to promote greater economic and educational opportunities for African Americans. The Black Lives Matter movement has been particularly active in North Carolina, with protests and demonstrations taking place across the state.

Despite these efforts, however, racism remains a deeply ingrained problem in North Carolina.

SUNDOWN TOWNS IN NORTH CAROLINA

Sundown town, in U.S. history, a town that excluded nonwhite people—most frequently African Americans—from remaining in town after sunset.

Here is a current list of sundown towns in North Carolina. This list has been created by Tougaloo College in Tougaloo, MS. This list is a work in progress. Some cities have been confirmed as sundown towns and some are listed for other or similar reasons.

Bakersville

Brasstown

Faith

Graham County

Hot Springs

King

Kure Beach

Mayodan

Mitchell County

Rosman

Southern Shores

Spruce Pine

Surf City

Swain County

Trent Woods

Wrightsville Beach