Wilson County Public Library will present a lecture on the little-known 135th Regiment of the United States Colored Troops on November 15, 2018. The 135th mustered in Goldsboro, North Carolina, in March 1865 near the end of the Civil War. Approximately 200 of the 1200 soldiers in this regiment were from North Carolina. Though none are known to have been born in Wilson County, some of the many Wayne County enlistees likely had family connections across the county line, including Jack Sherrod.
Our wires crossed a bit, and I will not actually be speaking on “Neighborhood as Palimpsest,” but come on out anyway, because I will be talking about the development of Wilson’s African-American neighborhoods in response to the city’s burgeoning tobacco industry.
If you’re in Wilson on the evening of February 7, I’ll be speaking about how we recover the names and thereby honor the lives of our enslaved forebears. Please join us.
When I got home Sunday, this was on the kitchen table:
My talk was tonight. It was a delight. Though my focus was black Wide-Awake, the crowd reflected Wilson’s deep diversity. All were gracious and grateful, and I gave thanks for the opportunity to share at home.
