Durham, NC – Bennett Place State Historic Site will shine a powerful light on North Carolina’s history when it hosts a luminary program dedicated to the stories of enslaved people’s avenues to freedom during the Civil War era. The event, originally scheduled for April, will now take place on Saturday, Sept. 20, from 7–9:30 p.m.
The program is free and open to the public, with donations welcomed. Guests are encouraged to check Bennett Place and N.C. Historic Sites’ social media pages for weather updates.
A Powerful Symbol of Freedom
The event will feature 1,324 luminaries, each representing 250 of the 331,059 men, women, and children enslaved in North Carolina who ultimately experienced freedom with the Civil War’s end. Historians from across the state will share narratives illuminating how enslaved people forged their own pathways toward liberty.
Adding to the reflective atmosphere, musician Shana Tucker will provide live instrumental music as visitors honor the courage and resilience of those who fought for freedom.
Historical Context
From the earliest months of the Civil War, enslaved African Americans sought freedom by fleeing to Union lines, resisting forced labor, and reshaping both civilian and military policy. President Abraham Lincoln’s Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation, issued on September 22, 1862, declared enslaved people in rebelling states “forever free” beginning January 1, 1863…