Discover Our Black Community | Chapel Hill and Orange County, NC (2024)

The Marian Cheek Jackson Center
The Jackson Center is a hub of creative action dedicated to preserving the future of historically Black neighborhoods in Chapel Hill and Carrboro, NC. Two popular programs offered by the center are From the Rock Wall which features living histories of Black Chapel hill & CarrboroandaWalking Tour- Histories of Home: A Walk with Northside Neighbors. The Center is located at 512 W. Rosemary Street in Chapel Hill.

The Sonja Haynes Stone Center for Black Culture and History at the University of North Carolina
Originally named the Black Cultural Center and later renamed after a beloved faculty member Dr. Sonja Hanes Stone, the Center focuses on raising awareness as well as an appreciation of African-American culture by the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill campus community. The Center houses an art gallery, a library and hosts programmatic initiatives to help campus community and others to critically assess and understand the African-American heritage. The Center is located at 150 South Road on the campus of UNC-Chapel Hill.

Hillsborough’s African American History: A Walking Tour
This self-guided walking tour focuses on the African-American Community that has flourished in Hillsborough. The tour includes homes, buildings, a mural, and cemetery accompanied by historical explanation.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Park
Located at 1120 Hillsborough Road in Carrboro, the park features 10 + acres to explore, a multi-purposed field, community garden, a natural play area and Fit-trail. Murals honoring Dr. King and quotes by him are placed throughout the park. Open 7:00 am to Dark.

UNC’s Black and Blue tour
Covers the history and involvement of African Americans on the campus of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, as well as the extended Chapel Hill community, from enslavement to the present.

Service Mural
This is the first in a series of murals that will commemorate the contributions of African Americans and Native Americans to the state. It is on display on the first floor of the Knapp-Sanders Building located at 400 South Rd, Chapel Hill.

Elizabeth Cotten
One of the most recent of Scott Nurkin's murals located on the Carrboro- Chapel Hill line at 111 N. Merritt Mill Road is part of a project that pays tribute to North Carolina Musicians and features large-scale murals in the hometowns of famous North Carolina musicians. Elizabeth Cotten, born in Carrboro, NC is a legendary folk-blues musician best known for her song "Freight Train" and playing her guitar upside down to accommodate her left-handedness.

Black Lives Matter Murals
The Town of Carrboro completed this Black Lives Matter mural on Dec. 18, 2020, at CommunityWorx, 125 W. Main St. The mural faces West Main Street at the intersection of Jones Ferry Road. The mural was created by Tyrone Small and a team of young artists. "The BLM mural done by myself and the students was a testament to what we can all do as a people if we can just put our differences aside and come together to create somethingbeautiful and lasting forever," Mr. Small said. Another Black Lives Matter mural can be found at the Carrboro Century Center at 100 N. Greensboro Street. It was completed by Erbriyon Barrett on January 15, 2021

Take the ‘A’ Train- Billy Strayhorn
Last year, downtown Hillsborough saw the completion of its first mural. “Take the ‘A’ Train” honors composer and jazz performer Billy Strayhorn. He spent time in Hillsborough as a child visiting his grandmother, who lived around the corner from the mural’s location. The mural – painted by Hillsborough fine artist Max Dowdle – can be found at 226 South Churton Street, home to Volume, a record store and bar. Strayhorn’s grandmother taught him to play the piano, and he burst onto the jazz scene in the late 1930s when he joined Duke Ellington’s band.

Marker:NavyB-1 Band
Marker Text: In May 1942 a group of 44 African American musicians broke the U.S. Navy's color barrier, enlisting at general rank. Barracks were 1/4 mi .W.
Location:West Franklin Street at South Roberson Street in Chapel Hill

Marker:Elizabeth Cotten1893-1987
Marker Text:“Libba” Cotten composed, recorded “Freight Train” (1958). Key figure, 1960s folk revival. Born and raised on Lloyd Street.
Location:East Main Street in Carrboro

Marker:Journey of Reconciliation
Marker Text:In 1947 the Congress of Racial Equality & local citizens, black & white, protested bus segregation. Setting out from Washington, D.C., "freedom riders" tested compliance with a U.S. Supreme Court ruling barring segregation on interstate buses. On April 13, riders arrived at the local bus station then 20 yards west. A mob attacked one rider. Four others were arrested and sentenced to 30 days on chain gangs.
Location:North Columbia Street at Rosemary Street in Chapel Hill

Marker: Chapel Hill Nine
Marker Text:On February 28, 1960, a group of students from the all-black Lincoln High school, inspired by the sit-ins in Greensboro earlier that month, organized their own demonstrations at the Colonial Drug Store on Franklin Street.
Location: 450 W Franklin St, Chapel Hill, NC 27516

Tribute:Peace & Justice Plaza
History: The significance of this plaza is that it'sthe site for many civil rights movements beginning in the 1960's including a movement by black Lincoln High School students that led weekly marches from 1960- 1964.
Location: 179 E. Franklin St.

Tribute:Northside Gateway: Freedom Fighters wall
History: The Gateway is an historic welcome to Northside and honors the community's Freedom Fighters, the people of Northside that have struggled for freedom their whole lives. Eight granite slabs feature images of civil rights action in Chapel Hill plus quotations from oral history interviews.
Location: At the corner of W. Rosemary and Roberson in Chapel Hill

Food & Drink

401 Main*Carrboro
*Chapel Hill
Big Bob’s City Grill*Hillsborough
Blend of Soul * Chapel Hill
Bouquet Garni * Chapel Hill
Cosmic Cantina*Chapel Hill
Dame's Chicken and Waffles*Chapel Hill
Mama Dip’s*Chapel Hill
Tonya’s Cookies*Chapel Hill
Vegan Flava Café*Chapel Hill
Walt’s Grill, Chapel Hill *111 Merritt Mill Rd, Chapel Hill, (919) 933-1744
Yumphoria * Chapel Hill

Services

Aaron Mobile Notary Express*Orange County
ATU Corp (Ayankoya Taxes Unlimited Corporation)*Chapel Hill - certified management accountants:
Bettye’s Flower Design*Chapel Hill -florist
Carolina Car Wash & Detail*Carrboro
Black Star Strategies*Chapel Hill - coaching and strategic planning for businesses
EmPOWERment, Inc. *non-profit affordable housing
Excellent Presence*digital marketing & web strategy
Garblana Business Services*clothing, imprinted & promotional products
Gates of Beauty*Carrboro * autobody shop
Harvest Learning Center*Chapel Hill * child/day care
Midway Business Center
Munroe’s Custom Window Treatment *Carrboro *(919) 370-8755
Nanny Posse*Chapel Hill *child care consulting and placement
ShineBIG.com*Chapel Hill
Sharon Hill International*Chapel Hill *business etiquette, diversity training
Throne Party Rentals * Chapel Hill * party rentals & setups
Trevor Holman Photography* Chapel Hill

Hair, Beauty, Barbers

Style of Elegance *Carrboro * beauty salon *(919) 933-1710
Cut Above Barber Shop *Chapel Hill *(919) 933-2883
Legacy Cuts Barber Shop *Chapel Hill *(919) 636-4558
Pink Vanity*Chapel Hill *hair salon *(919) 240-8538
Who’s Next Barbershop*Chapel Hill

Health,Exercise, Personal Development

Chapel Hill Training*Chapel Hill
Holman Family Dental Care*Chapel Hill
Jazzercise of Chapel Hill*Chapel Hill
NuGenesis Training & Fitness*Chapel Hill
Stretch Zone Chapel Hill*Chapel Hill
The Coalition NC Self Defense and Fitness*Chapel Hill
Carolina Elite Studios * Hillsborough * Dance Studio

Shops

Rumors Boutique*Chapel Hill *thrift & consignment