Durham's Black Cultural Institutions Write Their Next Chapter
Building on a proud and painful history, the city's Black cultural organizations are securing their legacy for a new generation.
Durham's Black cultural institutions carry a history as rich as any in the South, and they are determined that it endure.
A proud legacy
Rooted in the community that once made the city a center of Black enterprise and culture, these institutions — theaters, archives, arts organizations — preserve and celebrate a heritage of achievement against the odds.
Their history is both proud and painful, and they hold both truths.
Securing the future
The current work is about permanence: building endowments, restoring buildings, engaging young people who will carry the institutions forward.
The effort reflects a determination not to let hard-won cultural achievements fade. In securing their institutions, the city's cultural leaders ensure that Durham's remarkable story continues to be told — by the community that lived it, on its own terms, for generations to come.
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