RALEIGH, N.C. – History is often remembered through major events and well-known figures. At the Gregg Museum of Art & Design, a new exhibition instead turns the spotlight on the bookstores, family businesses, neighborhoods and everyday people whose perseverance helped shape Black life across North Carolina.
Opening July 2 and on view through Feb. 27, 2027, Community Stories: Sustaining North Carolina’s Black Heritage presents a series of vignettes exploring spaces of dignity, belonging, safety and imagination within Black communities. Through historical photographs, contemporary images, artwork and artifacts from community partners, the exhibition examines how generations of Black North Carolinians preserved culture, built thriving communities and created opportunities despite systemic barriers.
Rather than following a traditional historical timeline, the exhibition weaves together stories of resilience, entrepreneurship, creativity and family to show how ordinary spaces became extraordinary centers of community life…