The African American community in North Carolina emerged from the shadows of slavery in 1865 to quickly take positions of importance in government, education, and media. The progress has not always been easy or free of hardship and danger, but the results forNorth Carolina have been a vibrant and diverse sense of community that benefits every citizen. The following African Americans played an important role in the emergence of the African-American community and the advancement of North Carolina.

An Era of Progress and Promise, 1863-1910
This 400+ page book, which details the strides in black education and religion in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, contains a large number of institutional profiles of African-American churches and schools, as well as brief biographies of luminaries within the African-American community.

Dr. Charlotte Hawkins Brown founded a school for the education of Black students which eventuallybecame the Palmer Memorial Institute. Dr. Brown's work at the Palmer Institute won her fame not only as an educator but alsoas a public speaker who advanced the cause of education for allcitizens.

Alex Manly was the editorof the Wilmington Daily Record whose editorial regardingrace relations in Reconstruction North Carolina touched off arace riot that marked the beginning of the Jim Crow era of NorthCarolina's history.

Hiram Rhoades Revels, bornin Fayetteville, was the first Black member of the United StatesCongress, veteran of the Civil War, and a minister who tendedBlack congregations in several states.