This weekend marks the 249th anniversary of American independence from the British crown, and I cannot muster any words of pride for the only home I have ever known.

Whereas, North Carolina's history is characterized by a complex past. Over the course of that history, North Carolina has been a witness to cruel acts of violence against the people who call this state home; it is important that families of those victims know that the State of North Carolina recognizes these atrocities and their impact on communities across our state; and

Listening to this song as a child and even as a young adult, I felt something stirring within my soul. The raw emotion of the song, along with the strength and tone of the voice, conveyed to my body, even before I could fully grasp its meaning, that I needed to pay attention. It wasn't until I was older and more informed about the history of Black people in this country and Billie Holiday's life that I realized the song's true significance.

ROLESVILLE — The Rolesville Police Department investigated the vandalism of the George Taylor Memorial at Main Street Park. The incident was reported to police on December 17, 2024.  The vandal was not identified…

I tend to avoid sad movies, especially ones that highlight suffering children. The emotions that rise up are too intense, too raw, and hit too close to home. 

Regardless, this past December, I traveled to Montgomery, Alabama, with leaders from the Wake County Community Remembrance Coalition to tour the Museum, Memorial, and Sculpture Park of the Equal Justice Initiative (EJI).

Hallie Brew and Judith VanBoven (JuJu) participated in the 2024 pilgrimage to EJI in Montgomery, AL. This blog is their reflections. Ms. VanBoven is a recent college graduate, and Ms. Brew is a senior. They first started to research George Taylor’s story (the man subjected in 1918 to the only documented lynching in Wake County) in Matt Scialdone’s African American Studies class at Middle Creek High School. On this Martin Luther King Day their reflections are below. 

According to WRAL the homeowner said, “we were disappointed to learn that our Halloween decorations offended someone.”

Don’t they know George Taylor was lynched just miles away in Rolesville? Hung by his feet, riddled with bullets on election night, Nov. 5, 1918?

Please join Wake County Community Remembrance Project’s next pilgrimage to EJI’s National Peace & Justice Memorial and Legacy Museum (Dec 5-6).

Wake County historical marker honors lynching victim more than 100 years later.

Register for the upcoming dedication event.

Launch of a new website