You know I love some good robust local history programming, and Iredell County (N.C.) Public Library is absolutely gold standard. Here are their 2026 Black History Month offerings — a February packed with panels, guest speakers, workshops, and a documentary film screening.
I love to share African-American history with a hometown audience, and a weather delay means I’ll be speaking two nights in a row at Wilson County Public Library!
Tonight, February 24, 6:30 PM:
Tomorrow night, February 25, 6:00 PM, Wilson County Genealogical Society meeting (open to the public):
One of the highlights of the symposium I attended last weekend was meeting Audrey Collins and Rhonda Jackson, two sisters at the heart of efforts to reclaim Atlanta’s Piney Grove Cemetery. Now pinned between Highway GA-400 and a Buckhead apartment complex, Piney Grove has roots deep in the 19th century and may contain hundreds of graves. I look forward to sharing Lane Street Project’s highs and lows with Friends of Piney Grove, and bringing ideas from their experiences back to our cemeteries.
I’ll be in North Carolina during Piney Grove’s next volunteer day, but I can surely signal-boost to my Atlanta folks. Celebrate Black History Month with service!
From the North Carolina African American Heritage Commission (@northcarolinaaahc)’s Instagram account:
“February marks the observance of Black History Month, a time to celebrate and share the history, culture and contributions of African Americans. Throughout February, we will explore black individuals’ contributions to the vibrant narrative of North Carolina.
“We acknowledge that it’s important to celebrate and educate ourselves during this month, but the learning shouldn’t stop there.
“A good starting point would be the North Carolina African American Heritage Commission’s 2025 Black History Month Toolkit, where you can find calendar events, reading lists and so much more to further your knowledge and appreciation for African American history, art and culture. Afterwards, we encourage you to explore the AAHC’s website for other ways to continue your learning all year long.”
Find the toolkit here.
Spent the morning, appropriately, at Georgia Archives and the Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society Metro Atlanta Chapter Symposium 2025. I was particularly interested in hearing Dr. DL Henderson talk about her book, Perpetual Segregation: Chronicling the Black Side of Atlanta’s Oakland Cemetery, hoping to gain insights that would help Lane Street Project and other cemetery research. My copy of Perpetual Segregation arrives tomorrow, and I can’t wait to study closely the points she could raise only briefly. I also had the good fortune to connect with the folks championing Atlanta’s Piney Grove Cemetery and look forward with meeting with them; sharing LSP’s wins and losses; and working their service days.
My steps were ordered.
We know that Black history is an inseparable thread in the warp and weft of American history. We also know that’s not the point the press secretary, with her side-step that ended with “America is back,” was trying to make. A few thoughts for these next few years:
Wilson Daily Times, 19 February 1944.