Freedmen's Villages and Juneteenth: A CBC DEIB Council-Created Resource
17/06/2022
First days of freedom: Thousands freed from slavery in Raleigh built the first Freedmen's Villages Full of modern day coffee shops, trendy restaurants and boutiques, it may be hard to imagine a time when downtown Raleigh was instead full of sprawling fields, plantation houses - and hundreds of enslaved individuals.
Instead of busy roads and breweries, much of what now comprises downtown was rural - including plantations like Spring Hill, Mordecai, Lane, Devereux, Haywood, Cameron and others.
Will's Forest (or Devereux) Mansion, built in 1840
When emancipation finally came to Raleigh, thousands of suddenly freed men and women flooded from those plantations and into the surrounding city. Most had no money, no homes, no formal education. There were no churches, schools or medical facilities to serve the once-enslaved population. How did a generation of freed families build a life for themselves from nothing?
African-Americans, after slavery, decided to get together and build, brick-by-brick, a community and a sense of ownership that allowed them to thrive, says Grady Bussey, center director for the John Chavis Memorial Park.
Within a generation of freedom, the African American community in Raleigh had built multiple neighborhoods known as Freedmen's Villages. There were thriving businesses, government leaders, universities, hospitals and churches.
What happened to Raleigh's 13 Freedman Villages?
Juneteenth in Raleigh: The early days of emancipation Imagine the first moment of freedom: What is the first thing enslaved men and women in Raleigh did upon learning they were free?
Raleigh historians say some likely walked off the plantation, simply because they could. Many likely celebrated, while others were in shock.
Think of someone walking up to you and saying everything you've known your whole life has just changed, says Bussey. You are a full person. You are a descendent now. You have a full name now. You have the ability and rights to do things you didn't have yesterday.
Rose, Ned, Nancy: The lost names and stories of Raleigh's enslaved community
Bussey asks, How do people learn how to become someone new overnight?
He says some, who likely struggled with the sudden change, stayed on the plantations they'd always known and began working as sharecroppers. Others, who had seen family members sold to plantations far away, began planning long journeys to find their lost loved ones.
Some, however, began the communal work of building their new homes in freedom establishing Freedmen's Villages like Oberlin Village and 12 other neighborhoods in the east and south parts of Raleigh. Even today, some of that historic segregation can be seen in the history of southeast Raleigh.
The Duncan Cameron plantation. Image courtesy of the State Archives of North Carolina.
Freedmen's Villages: Building a community from the ground up The land that now comprises the Village District (formerly Cameron Village) was once an antebellum plantation owned by Duncan Cameron. Cameron is known to have had one of the largest holdings of enslaved people in the state. His plantation mansion is long gone today, but an archival photo provides a glimpse into how the area once looked.
Plantations were self-sustaining, said Bussey. They had shops and cemeteries, gathering places for church.
When hundreds of people were suddenly free to leave Cameron's plantation, they had to figure out how to make money and how to find land for a home.
Oberlin Village was built upon land subdivided from white landowners and sold to newly-freed African Americans, according to research done by Ruth Little for the Historic Research Report for the Designation of Oberlin Village.
White merchant and entrepreneur Lewis W. Peck is the earliest known landowner to sell lots to African Americans, she wrote.
The villages were given several derogatory names by the surrounding public: Names like Save-Rent' or Slab Town' to invoke a sense of cheapness.' Eventually, however, the community would take on the name Oberlin Village.
Oberlin Village: A community built by people freed from slavery in Raleigh
James Harris is often associated with the name Oberlin. One of the leading Black politicians in Wake County, he was born in Granville County while still enslaved. He earned his freedom and traveled to Ohio, where he studied at Oberlin College, then moved around assisting people in escaping slavery. Oberlin College was an abolitionist college that not only accepted Black students, but allowed them to come on campus and matriculate.
For a community of newly-freed slaves, the name Oberlin would have represented the freedom to gain education and build a life of their own - to be uplifted.
During the 1870s, Oberlin's pioneers established essential institutions for an independent community - two churches, a cemetery and a school, wrote Little.
Many of Oberlin Village's residents throughout the generations became leaders in the community. James Shepard, for example, founded the college that would become North Carolina Central University. Joe Holt was the first Black student to challenge school segregation in Raleigh after Brown vs. the Board of Education.
Just down the road,
LINK: | https://capitolbroadcasting.com/2022/06/17/freedmens-villages-and-june... |
See more stories from cbc |
More from WRAL-TV
26/04/2024
2024 Emerging Leaders Internship Program Open for Applications, Deadline May 31st
Capitol Broadcasting & Leadership Triangle Collaborate for Third Year Capitol B...
26/04/2024
MIX 101.5 Launches New YouTube Shows
The staff at CBC Radio have been hard at work creating several new features for listeners and viewers. Several debuts are taking place this spring. I have nev...
25/04/2024
Perfect Weather Forecast for American Tobacco Events Tonight and Saturday
The American Tobacco Campus will be hopping with activity tonight and this weekend with two fun events! Durham Night Market At last! The Durham Night Market i...
25/04/2024
Capitol Broadcasting Company to Air Carolina Panthers Games on Triangle's Strongest Broadcast Signal
The Carolina Panthers and Capitol Broadcasting Company (CBC) announced they have...
22/04/2024
WRAL-TV's Brian Shrader Announces Newscast Move
WRAL-TV Anchor/Reporter Brian Shrader made a big announcement on Friday, April 19, 2024. After 16 years as morning traffic anchor, Shrader will be moving to ...
18/04/2024
Race or Just Have Fun at Rocky Mount Mills for a Good Cause, Not Your Run of the Mill 5K
Rocky Mount Mills will be overflowing with runners, families and friends, all fo...
16/04/2024
Passion, Community Engagement: How CBC's Jheri Hardaway Found a Path to Serve Through the United Way
Capitol Broadcasting Company holds supporting the community as a high priority a...
15/04/2024
Rolling with the Gnomies: CBC Hiring at Greenville Yard Gnomes
Need a summer job? Love baseball? Interested in finding out about a career in sports management, food service, hospitality and more? The Greenville Yard Gnomes ...
12/04/2024
A Different DJ in the MIX Studios: Wolfpack Pride in the House
The WRAL-FM studios had three very special guests on Thursday, April 11, 2024. NC State basketball stand-out DJ Horne and his parents stopped by to chat with t...
10/04/2024
Durham Bulls Home Opening Day Through the Eyes of a New HR Staffer
The Durham Bulls took on the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp in the home opener at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park on Tuesday, April 2, 2024. The night was a first-eve...
10/04/2024
Greenville Yard Gnomes Announce Single-Game Tickets Now on Sale
Tickets now on sale for all 30 home games, including Gnome Opener on Friday, May 24 The Greenville Yard Gnomes announced today that single-game tickets for all...
09/04/2024
CBC Celebrates the Wolfpack Basketball Historic Run
Capitol Broadcasting divisions showed their love for the NC State Wolfpack in a big way last Friday, April 5, 2024. As both the men's and women's basket...
08/04/2024
Vote Now: HSOT Honors winter sports finalists
HighSchoolOT Honors is back for the 2023-24 school year, and it's time to nominate North Carolina's BEST high school athletes, coaches, teams and more. ...
05/04/2024
Bulls & Radio Collide as Carpool Casanova Gets Back Up to Sing Anthem This Friday
You know that feeling when you jump to say, yes, and then get hold of your fac...
04/04/2024
WRAL-TV, Capitol Broadcasting Go Red, Prep TV Special, in Support of Wolfpack Basketball
WRAL-TV and Capitol Broadcasting are painting the town red in our excitement for...
03/04/2024
WRAL's Morgan, Gardner Rank Best Local TV Personality List in 2024 Maggy Awards
WRAL-TV Anchor Debra Morgan is tops in the Triangle. Cary Magazine released the ...
02/04/2024
Durham Bulls begin 2024 season with new food, players and field at the DBAP
Tuesday night marks the Durham Bulls' 2024 home opener against the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. at Durham Bulls Athlet...
01/04/2024
Durham Bulls Open 2024 Home Season Tuesday
The long offseason is finally over and Opening Night at the DBAP is this Tuesday, April 2, 2024! Don't miss out on all of the fun, including: Opening Night...
30/03/2024
Durham Bulls Announce 2024 Opening Day Roster
MiLB's 4th Ranked Prospect Junior Caminero Highlights Manager Morgan Ensberg's First Durham Team; 15 Return From IL Runner-Up Squad The Tampa Bay Rays ...
28/03/2024
2024 Big Night In Raises $145k to Support Triangle Arts Councils
Capitol Broadcasting and WRAL-TV once again proudly supported our local arts community with the broadcast of Big Night in for the Arts Thursday, March 7, 2024. ...
25/03/2024
New Additions to Lineup of Vice Presidents at Capitol Broadcasting
Over the past year, Capitol Broadcasting Company has had multiple changes in leadership due to retirement of several long-time company Vice Presidents. VICE PR...
22/03/2024
CBC-UNC Diversity Fellowship celebrates 10 years with a new class of student journalists
CBC and UNC-Chapel Hill hosted the 10th CBC-UNC Diversity Fellowship this month....
21/03/2024
World's largest IVF training facility teaches students in Rocky Mount
Inside ArtLab, you'll find microscopes, incubators, test tubes, and more. The laboratory is the world's largest in vitro training facility at Rocky Moun...
19/03/2024
Hear from New Bulls Manager Morgan Ensberg on latest The Durham Bulls Podcast
Meet the Bulls' new manager, hear from 2 former managers, a former player and a person with a very special connection to Wool E. Bull. Tune in to The Durham...
18/03/2024
CBC/WRAL Night Helps Bring in Over $26k for PBS NC
Capitol Broadcasting and WRAL-TV continued a decades-long tradition of supporting PBS North Carolina, our state's public television station, to good result ...
15/03/2024
Bulls Concessions + Your Nonprofit Team = Great Fundraising
Is your non-profit group looking for a new way to raise funds? Consider volunteering with the Durham Bulls. Volunteering at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park is a ...
14/03/2024
CBC Podcast, A Brief History of Triangle Sports, Focuses on Road to Legal Sports Betting in NC
The Capitol Broadcasting podcast A Brief History of Triangle Sports returned ear...
13/03/2024
MilkShake Factory to open at American Tobacco
MilkShake Factory Shakes Things Up with First North Carolina Location More Sweet News for Durham and the American Tobacco Campus MilkShake Factory is delighte...
12/03/2024
New WRAL Documentary UnSafe Looks at Gun Violence
Airs Wednesday, March 13 at 7pm Join WRAL-TV on a compelling journey as the WRAL Documentary Unit delves into the heart of a pressing issue: gun violence. Shoc...
08/03/2024
Durham Bulls Single Game Tix on Sale, 2024 Promotions Schedule Released
The Durham Bulls are less than one month away from Opening Night at Durham Bulls Athletic Park! Single game tickets are now on sale, and the club has announced...
07/03/2024
A New Era of Entertainment at ATC-State of Golf
Downtown Durham's First Multisport Simulator Bar to Open in May 2024 The American Tobacco Campus is thrilled to welcome State of Golf, an innovative multis...
07/03/2024
Tune in TONIGHT for Big Night In for the Arts
Where else can you see performances by renowned artists including Grammy-nominated musicians Pierce Freelon and Tift Merritt, award winning bluegrass musician T...
06/03/2024
Welcoming Two New Restaurants to Rocky Mount Mills NOW OPEN!
Rocky Mount Mills now has two brand new restaurants open for business! Check out the details: 1135 Falls Rd Building on the success of the original Jack'...
04/03/2024
Behind-The-Scenes Sneak Peek at Big Night In for the Arts: Recording Tift Merritt
A crew from WRAL-TV traveled to Sonark Studios in Hillsborough on Wednesday, Feb...
01/03/2024
Big Night In Wins Emmy
As WRAL-TV gets set to air the 2024 Big Night In for the Arts, the station has received accolades for last year's broadcast! The 2023 Big Night In is the re...
28/02/2024
Come Join Fun at Watch Party for Big Night In 2024
Big Night In for the Arts, the partnership between WRAL-TV and the arts councils of Wake, Durham, Chatham, and Orange counties is right around the corner on Thu...
27/02/2024
CBC/WRAL Night at PBS NC Supporting Public TV Annual Fundraiser Tonight
Tune in to PBS NC tonight, Tuesday, February 27, 2024, to see WRAL-TV Anchor/Reporter Lena Tillett. No, that's not a station misprint. Tillett will appear...
23/02/2024
Explorer Post 5 Students Learn from WRAL-TV Doc Team
WRAL-TV's Documentary Team recently took time out of their busy schedules to talk to students in the WRAL Explorer Post 5 program. WRAL-TV Documentary & Inv...
21/02/2024
Rolling out the green carpet: New playing field for Durham Bulls Athletic Park
Baseball season is about a month and a half away from its opening game on April 2, 2024. Durham Bulls' fans are eager to hear the first crack of a bat. Pla...
20/02/2024
News excellence: WRAL claims top award, six more at regional Emmys
The 38th annual Midsouth Regional Emmy Award winners were announced in Nashville on Feb. 17, 2024, and WRAL again came home with the top award. It marks the sec...
19/02/2024
Capitol Broadcasting Partnership Wins 2024 Space Award for Office Development
The Triangle Business Journal honored the 2024 winners of the publication's Space Awards on Thursday, February 15, 2024, and Capitol Broadcasting Company...
16/02/2024
WRAL-TV Rick Gall Honored with Lifetime Achievement Award by RTDNAC
The Radio Television Digital News Association of the Carolinas (RTDNAC) surprised WRAL-TV News Director Rick Gall with a Lifetime Achievement Award for years o...
15/02/2024
Listen Up: Bulls Re-Launch THE Durham Bulls Podcast
The Durham Bulls have re-launched their podcast and are ready for fans to give it a listen! The first episode of THE Durham Bulls Podcast features the Bulls and...
14/02/2024
Lineup Revealed for 2024 Big Night In for the Arts
Tune in to WRAL-TV on March 7, 2024, for Big Night In for the Arts, what has become an annual tradition for WRAL-TV in partnership with the arts councils of Wak...
13/02/2024
99.9 The Fan's Adam Gold Ranked in Top 20 MidMarket Midday Shows in the Nation
99.9 The Fan Sports Talk Host Adam Gold made Barrett Sports Media's Top 20 M...
12/02/2024
MIX Welcomes Meghan Lamontagne to Middays Mean Girls Style
WRAL-FM MIX 101.5 welcomes a new midday host starting Monday, February 12, 2024. Meghan Lamontagne will debut in 10am 3pm slot. Multimedia Personality at MIX ...
12/02/2024
Explorer Post 5 Become News Team for Eagle Scout Banquet
On Saturday, February 3, 2024, WRAL-TV had a very special crew covering a big event in Raleigh, the Occoneechee Boy Scout Council's Eagle Banquet. Members o...
09/02/2024
ACC Baseball Championship Returns To Durham
DBAP Will Host In 2025, 2027 and 2029 The Durham Bulls and the Atlantic Coast Conference have announced that the ACC Baseball Championship will return to Durha...
09/02/2024
Rocky Mount Mills Welcomes Three New Culinary Ventures
Food and beverage businesses join ever-evolving campus Rocky Mount Mills, the bustling mixed-use campus renowned for its blend of contemporary living, office ...