CARRBORO, NC – Mayor Damon Seils has proclaimed February 2023 as Black History Month in Carrboro.
The proclamation recognizes that Black people have played and continue to play significant roles in Carrboro’s economic, cultural, spiritual, and political development.
It further recognizes the Town of Carrboro’s commitment to advancing racial equity. The Town joined the Government Alliance on Race and Equity (GARE) in 2018, and in 2019 established a Racial Equity Core Team of employees who are leading the way toward an equitable systems change across the organization.
In 2020, the Town adopted a resolution to advance racial equity in law enforcement and public safety and adopted a resolution in support of reparation for Black Carrboro.
In 2021, the Racial Equity Commission and Community Safety Task Force were established.
The Carrboro Connects 2022-2042 Comprehensive Plan was adopted with race and equity as a foundational theme.
The fiscal year 2023 budget includes fund to conduct a disparity study that will inform changes to the Town’s procurement policies to increase opportunities for minority- and women-owned business enterprises.
“I encourage all residents to participate in local Black History month events and to learn about and celebrate the lives, history, and contributions of Black people during this month and throughout the year,” Mayor Seils said.
Local celebrations of Black History Month this year will include a Black History Month Concert Series; performance of the one-woman stage play The Spirit of Harriet Tubman; a history lecture, “Black Resistance,” focusing on the Freedmen’s conventions, part of an ongoing event series titled Celebrating Black People in America; and a poets’ open mic held via Zoom.
In addition to the scheduled events, the Town will host a month-long youth art exhibit on the Carrboro Recreation, Parks & Cultural Resources Department’s website, 28 days of Black history trivia, and inspiring quotes, all shared via the Town’s social media channels.
In May and June of this year, the Town will again partner with the Music Maker Foundation to host the Freight Train Blues concert series in celebration of local music legend and Grammy Award recipient Elizabeth Cotten.
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