“ Strength Through Struggle”
The Chronological and Historical Record
of the African-American Community
in Wilmington, North Carolina, 1865-1950,
By William M. (Bill) Reaves (1934 - 2000)
"Following the Civil War, Wilmington, North Carolina, the state's largest city and active port, was an attractive place for African-Americans. The naval stores industry, lumber mills and cotton compresses which lined the shores of the Cape Fear River provided employment opportunities for former slaves and free persons of color. A new group of community leaders arose from a substantial black middle-class and prosperity became evident in the organization of a myriad of religious, educational, charitable, social, military and political institutions.
By 1900, an unprecedented state-wide white supremacy campaign put an end to African-American participation in local government and continued prosperity was lost. However, the solid institutional foundation of the community did not disappear during segregation. By the end of the Second World War, Wilmington's AfricanAmerican community could proudly look back at the accomplishments achieved in their churches, schools, hospitals, charitable organizations and through their active military service. Gleaned mostly from local newspaper reports, this is their story, told for the first time in a comprehensive local history." --- from the book jacket
Mr. Reaves spent thirty years compiling information on the history of southeast North Carolina, and Wilmington. This book, focused on Wilmington's black community, includes chapters on social life, schools, churches, community affairs, military affairs, political affairs, business affairs. business, labor and agriculture, and 100 pages of biographical sketches. The book, 580 pages, is illustrated with 264 images. The every name index is 65 pages long.
The book was funded by grants and donations from the North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources, the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation, the New Hanover Friends of the Public Library, and Tabitha Hutaff McEachern. Published by the New Hanover County Public Library, 1998.
Sample Index - Page 1-8
.pdf file - requires Acrobat Reader
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Copies of “Strength through Struggle” are available
from the New Hanover County Public Library, North Carolina Room.
$20.00 – Picked up at the Library
$30.00 – by mail – Check or money order
(tax included)
New Hanover County Public Library
North Carolina Room
201 Chestnut St .
Wilmington , NC 28402
910-798-6305
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