The meaning and definition of the African American family has evolved over time. During enslavement, the law attempted to mediate the destiny of African American familial relations. Peoples of African descent were often not in control of their bodies, nor did they have legal custody of their own children. Blood relatives were scattered across the country. A number of historical events – from Emancipation to World War I, from the Great Migration to the Civil Rights era – have impacted black families, on a national as well as personal level.
This exhibition highlights different African American families in North Carolina, many of which have long and deep roots in this state that span generations. From the 19th century letters of Dr. Manassa Pope in Raleigh to Grigsby Family Reunion programs in the late 20th century, these materials illustrate the strength of the African American family as well as the larger black community, and how they have persisted and endured across time, space, and place.
For more details, visit the UNC Library News and Events blog, the African American Families Documentation Initiative or Researching African American Family History Workshop.
