Bertha Todd was honored for her legacy spanning seven decades of fighting for students and equality. The event was hosted by the UNCW College of Humanities, Social Sciences and the Arts (CHSSA), the departments of History, English, and Music and the UNCW Restorative Justice Collaboration. The celebration consisted of statements from Todd’s colleagues and friends over the years.
At 95 years old, Todd is celebrated for her role as librarian at Williston High School, her membership of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority and, among other contributions, her determination to educate about the 1898 massacre that occurred in Wilmington. Todd has authored multiple books, including “Reflections on a Massacre and a Coup.”
The 1898 massacre occurred on Nov. 10, 1898 in downtown Wilmington following an election on Nov. 8. A coup was carried out on the black citizens of Wilmington following years of white supremacy. At the time Wilmington had a biracial governing body, but days after the election, black electors were forced to resign due to threats and violence. These same tactics were uses on election day to prevent many black citizens from voting. It is unknown how many died during the mob.
The event began with a performance from the Williston Alumni Community Choir. A group of 19 sang three songs, in one of their final performances as a choir. In the audience were community members, and two rows of AKA Sorority sisters. There were several speakers at the event to honor Todd, the first bring Ivy Murrain from Chestnut Street Presbyterian Church. Todd joined the church in 1962 and has served numerous positions such as Sunday school teacher and mentor to all including Murrain. Murrain said that Todd’s service has never been about self-recognition, but about “faithfulness, formation and fellowship.”
Todd advocated for education on black history while working as a librarian. According to Kimberly Cook, Professor of Sociology and Criminology at UNCW, Todd was denied access to obtaining books for her students at the high school retaining to black history in Wilmington. Cook said, “she found ways to teach accurate history without those books.”…