Members of the North Carolina African American Heritage Commission were sworn in on Friday, Feb. 27, at 11 a.m. in the Government and Heritage Library at the Department of Cultural Resources, 109 East Jones St., in downtown Raleigh. N.C. Supreme Court Justice Patricia Timmons-Goodson administered the oath.
The commission, which was established by the North Carolina General Assembly in the 2007-2008 Session, will advise and assist the Secretary of Cultural Resources in the preservation, interpretation, and promotion of African American history, arts, and culture.
Committee members include Dr. Jean G. Spaulding of Cary, Mr. Darin Waters of Raleigh, Mr. Harry Harrison of Asheville, Dr. Freddie Parker of Durham, Mrs. Sterlin Benson-Webber of Charlotte, Ms. Frankie Day of Graham, Mrs. Annie McCoy of Raleigh, the Hon. Donald A. Bonner of Rowland, Dr. E. B. Palmer, Sr. of Raleigh, and Ms. Andrena Coleman of Greensboro.
Sponsors of the legislation in the N.C. Senate included Senators Dorsett, Cowell, Foriest, Graham, Jones, Malone, McKissick, and Rand. Sponsors in the N.C. House included Representatives Adams, Womble, Coleman, Wainwright, Bell, Harrison, Jeffus, Jones, Lucas, McAllister, and Mobley.
Duties of the commission established in the legislation include:
• To promote public awareness of historic buildings, sites, structures, artwork, and culture associated with North Carolina’s African American heritage through special programs, exhibits, and publications.
• To support African American heritage education in elementary and secondary schools in coordination with North Carolina Public Schools
• To build a statewide network of individuals and groups interested in the preservation of African American history, arts, and culture.
• To develop a program to catalog, preserve, assess, and interpret all aspects of African American history, arts, and culture.
The Department of Cultural Resources is the state agency that protects and promotes North Carolina’s arts, heritage, and culture. For more information, go to www.ncculture.com.