WILMINGTON – As part of its ongoing commemoration of America’s 250th anniversary, the Battleship North Carolina Memorial, a division of the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, invites the public to a special program on Tuesday, Feb. 24, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., highlighting the stories of Black North Carolinians who fought for American independence—including several with ties to the Wilmington area.
During the American War for Independence, more than 400 Black and multiracial soldiers from North Carolina served in military roles, contributing to the founding of a nation that did not yet fully recognize their freedom or citizenship. Their courage and service have long been underrepresented in the historical record.
As we mark the 250th anniversary of the country they helped to establish, we invite the community to come aboard the Battleship North Carolina and learn more about these often-forgotten patriots…