African American History Month: A Celebration of Stories

This month we're celebrating African American history in your OBX national parks - I hope you enjoy the stories below that are just a glimpse into the role your parks have played in providing freedom and opportunity for many generations. Just as we're bringing these stories to you wherever you are today, earlier this month we brought your OBX national parks to Richmond, VA! Our favorite turtle mascot (right) was my travel buddy as we brought together OBX lovers in RVA to introduce them to Outer Banks Forever and more importantly, get their ideas and feedback on how we can best support your parks. We're looking to continue our roadshow this spring, so if you'd like to help us make connections in your city (we're looking at you next Raleigh!), reply to this email and let me know. Your insight is invaluable as we kick off our 2nd year supporting your OBX national parks! See you in your parks,

Jessica Green Director, Outer Banks Forever P.S. Don't miss the contest announcement at the bottom of this email - you could be the designer of the next Junior Ranger badge at Fort Raleigh National Historic Site!

Support Your OBX National Parks

A Mirror to the Past, A Map to the Future: The Freedmen's Colony at Fort Raleigh

Fort Raleigh National Historic Site is most known as the home of "The Lost Colony," but there is another important story here - one of hope and freedom. The Freedmen's Colony was established by the Union army on Roanoke Island in May 1863. It was a safe haven for freed slaves during the Civil War. The freedmen were given plots of land and a community began to take shape: houses, churches, schools and sawmills were built. Former slaves, both children and adults, were taught how to read and write by revisiting Bible stories that had been passed down through oral history.  The colony flourished and by 1865 had a population of more than 3,000—possibly 4,000—people.  We had the opportunity to hear stories from two OBX locals who are descendants of the strong, courageous people who started their new lives here on Roanoke Island - Darrell Collins and Virginia Tillett. Read on to hear from them why this story is so important for us to reflect on as we look at the future of our nation.

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Hatteras Island's Unique Role in African American History

When you think of history at Cape Hatteras National Seashore, you likely envision the many stories of shipwrecks, the origins of surf fishing, or even the beginnings of surf culture. Did you also know that your Seashore was home to the first safe haven for freed slaves in North Carolina, and the first all African American life saving service in the country? The stories of the Hotel D'Afrique and the Pea Island Life Saving Service, under the command of Richard Etheridge, show us the value of perseverance and opportunity in the face of impossible odds. “When wrecks occurred on the beach, they (the Pea Island Life Saving Service) had to work together with other white stations. At nighttime, when they did the beach patrol, one went north and one went south, and they met the surfmen from the other stations on the beach and exchanged the beach token. They found that they respected each other, they learned from each other, they worked together and they found harmony because their mission was the same: saving lives together. ” says Jonathan Polk, a ranger at Cape Hatteras. Read on to learn more about these two unique stories from your OBX national parks.

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An Unlikely Friendship: Orville Wright and Paul Laurence Dunbar

Paul Laurence Dunbar is known as an American poet and author, and was the first African American author to support himself financially through his writing. But before he was well known, he was the only African American student in his class at Ohio Central High School in Dayton, OH - a class that also happened to include a young Orville Wright. Dunbar and the Wright Brothers struck up a friendship that included helping each other with class assignments and even publishing their own community newspapers. Though his career was cut short by illness, Dunbar produced twelve books of poetry, four novels, four books of short stories, and wrote the lyrics to many popular songs. His legacy shaped history and American literature. Read on to learn more about this unlikely friendship and Dunbar's literary success.

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Contest: Design the Next Junior Ranger Badge! We are excited to partner with your OBX national parks and the Dare County Arts Council to help YOU design the next Junior Ranger badge at Fort Raleigh National Historic Site! Every year, Fort Raleigh National Historic Site distributes over 1100 Junior Ranger Badges to visitors from all over the world. The Junior Ranger program is for kids of all ages and anyone young at heart. This year, the park is ordering new wooden badges and seeks artwork submissions from our community! Visit our website for full contest rules and submission guidelines. The deadline for your masterpiece is March 25, 2020 :) Learn More

Photo Credits: National Park Service

Outer Banks Forever is an official partner of the National Park Service and the three national parks of the Outer Banks. Learn more at www.obxforever.org

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