A Warning Then and Now: George H White's 1901 Farewell Address to Congress

Join us for a conversation exploring the past and its disturbing parallels in North Carolina today.

George H White was the fourth African American to represent North Carolina in the United States Congress in the late nineteenth century.  After the passage of legislation disfranchising black voters, White declined nomination to a third term, saying “I can no longer live in North Carolina and be treated as a man.” In his farewell speech he stated that “Phoenix-like he (the negro) will rise up some day and come again (to Congress).” North Carolina did not see another African American in Congress until Eva Clayton in 1992. 

Featured speakers will include Former U.S. Representative GK Butterfield, Historian Tim Tyson, Hilary Harris Klein of Southern Coalition for Social Justice, and Orange County Commissioner Sally Greene, among others. 

Renowned storyteller and performer Dr. Sonny Kelly will reenact the speech.

Program presented in partnership with Orange County Community Remembrance Coalition and Carolina Public Humanities.