From Odyssey for Democracy

The president and founder of local nonprofit Odyssey for Democracy, Clark Curtis, will share the latest news about the Black Oral Histories of Beaufort County Project on Sunday, October 19, between 6 pm and 7 pm at the Spring Garden MIssionary Baptist Church in Washington, NC.

Curtis will discuss the project’s history, its growth over the past several months, and the plans moving forward.

“I’m always excited when I’m afforded the opportunity to share all that we have been up to over the last few months,” said Curtis. “We have come a long way in a very short period of time, and we have no intention of slowing down. We now have over 20 interviews from Black residents across the county posted on the Black oral history website, blackoralhistories.blubrry.net, as well as Story Corps, where they are being archived at the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress. I want to thank Reverend Aaron Lewis, president of the Beaufort County NAACP and senior pastor of Spring Garden Missionary Baptist Church, for the opportunity to speak during the public session of the next meeting of the NAACP.  These opportunities are priceless for our ongoing efforts.”

“Sharing the hidden truths and historical facts of our nation, as well as our local communities, while preserving Black oral histories, helps shine light on darkness, strengthens our sense of community, and empowers future generations,” said Lewis. “The Beaufort County NAACP looks forward to partnering with Mr. Clark Curtis in celebrating the voices and stories that continue to educate, inspire, and unify us.” 

Curtis also expressed his appreciation to the businesses, organizations, and individuals who have come forward to help support and promote the project. They include the P.S. Jones Museum of African American Education, the Washington Waterfront Underground Railroad Museum, the Brown Library History Center, the Belhaven Public Library, the Historic Port of Washington, the Ware Creek/Rosenwald School Community Center, Arts of the Pamlico, Pamlico Books, the NC Estuarium, the City of Washington, the Center for Holocaust, Genocide, and Human Rights Studies at UNC Charlotte, and Phoenix Zones Initiative, a global nonprofit which fights to advance the health and well-being of people, animals, and the planet through policy and legislative change.

“Thanks to their help and support, our efforts continue to reach a much broader audience,” said Curtis.

The humanities serve as the anchor for the Black Oral Histories of Beaufort County 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 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. 

As part of its annual Large Projects Grants, NC Humanities awarded a total of $378,949 to twenty-one public humanities projects in 2024 that uplift and uncover stories, cultures, and histories of North Carolinians, both past and present.

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 be a voice for the marginalized who may not have a voice of their own, with the hope that together, we can make a difference and make the world a better place for all. oralhistories@odysseyfordemocracy.org.

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.