Black History Month Continues at Town Hall
by Nora Warren

At Town Hall, local history-making figures are taking center stage in Chapel Hill's African-American photo exhibit. The exhibit displays the faces of people who shaped Chapel Hill--people such as Reginald and Euzelle Smith. Their contributions to local schools date back to the early 1940s.

You can also read about music groups that gained popularity in the area. Doug Clark and the Hot Nuts were known for their performances at fraternity parties at Duke and at UNC-Chapel Hill. Organizers say the idea of featuring people instead of art came up in meetings about renaming Airport Road to Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.

"Based on that decision to make that change, there were also several ideas that came out of that committee,” said Kate Flory of the Chapel Hill Public Arts Commission. “There should be more than just the renaming of a road. That there should be a greater awareness of the history of the black community in Chapel Hill."

The exhibit runs until late March. You can see it at Town Hall or in the public library.