News Flash

NEWS RELEASE
Human Relations
Aug. 14, 2020

The city’s African American Heritage Initiative has created an online archive to capture the memories and recollections of African Americans who lived in Winston-Salem through the years of segregation and the civil rights movement and is inviting city residents to contribute to it.

The archive will accept anything that can be submitted electronically, including photos, documents, written recollections, oral histories or any other item of historical interest that can be submitted electronically.

The initiative is seeking submissions relating to churches, neighborhoods, schools and education, civic groups, government, arts and culture, the professions and businesses, and more.

An online submission form and submission instructions are posted at CityofWS.org/AAHI.

Dothula Baron, the chair of the city’s African American Heritage Initiative Committee, urged the city’s African American residents to participate. “Winston-Salem has a rich history!” she said. “Many of us have family and community photos, documents, and written memorabilia that we can submit. Let us work together to collect this data and ultimately preserve our proud heritage!"

The ultimate goal is to create an archive that can be searched and used by anyone researching some aspect of African American history in Winston-Salem. For now, the initiative is just accepting submissions. The search and retrieval function will be made public at a later date.

More information about the African American Heritage Initiative is posted at CityofWS.org/AAHI.