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From Odyssey for Democracy

February 27, 2024 (Washington, NC) – Washington-based nonprofit Odyssey for Democracy has officially launched the Black Oral Histories of Beaufort County site (blackoralhistories.blubrry.net). “This is all very exciting to get to this point, and we can’t thank NC Humanities and all of our other community partners enough for making this project a reality,” said Clark Curtis, president and founder of Odyssey for Democracy. “This is just the first step of many as we work to interview as many members of the black community as possible, young and old alike, capturing their first-hand life stories. They are part of all our history, and it is imperative that they be cherished and shared. Time is of the essence as the stories of the elders need to be captured now before it is too late.”

In addition to the project site, the interviews will be shared and promoted by the Washington Waterfront Underground Railroad Museum, The P.S. Jones African American Education Museum,  the Brown Library History Center, the Beaufort County Arts Council, the Center for Holocaust, Genocide, and Human Rights Studies at UNC Charlotte, and NPR’s StoryCorps. “We are also in the process of lining up speaking engagements here in Washington, which will include local schools and other civic organizations, ” said Curtis. “We welcome any opportunity to speak about the project, with the hope that it will cultivate even more leads for individuals to interview. I welcome any interested  organizations or schools to reach out to me at info@odysseyfordemocracy.org.”

Curtis added that they are already exploring new and innovative ways of engaging with students and getting them involved with the story-gathering process as well. “It makes perfect sense for the students to become engaged first hand with the Black history of our area, learning from that experience, and knowing they are a part of sharing a part of our history with others.”

The humanities serve as the anchor for the Black Oral History Project and will be imperative to its success moving forward. By exploring and bringing to light a part of our history that has fallen well below the radar, we will encourage curiosity, spawn new and diverse ideas, create a sense of empowerment for those who have been marginalized for centuries, and provide for them,  a sense of inclusion––develop new knowledge and awareness, and spawn mutual respect and understanding about a segment of our population that is such a vital part of our history. The humanities help us to better understand who we are, where we came from, and how much we all have in common. The Black Oral Histories of Beaufort County is made possible by a grant from North Carolina Humanities, a statewide nonprofit and the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. 

About Odyssey for Democracy:

Odyssey for Democracy is a 501c3 nonprofit committed to supporting the voices of democracy around the world. The voices are many and oftentimes go unnoticed. Our mission is to provide a space and vehicle for the marginalized to share their stories, with the hope that together, we can make a difference and make the world a better place for all.

About North Carolina Humanities:

Through public humanities programs and grant-making, North Carolina Humanities connects North Carolinians with cultural experiences that spur dialogue, deepen human connections, and inspire community. North Carolina Humanities is a statewide nonprofit and the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. To learn more, visit www.nchumanities.org. Any views, findings, conclusions, opinions, or recommendations expressed do not necessarily represent those of NC Humanities or the National Endowment for the Humanities.