Pauli Murray

Before Black History Month ends, the North Carolina Literary Map would like to highlight the life and activism of Pauli Murray. Born in 1910, Murray was a civil rights activist whose activism preceded much of the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s. She was born in Baltimore, but was raised in Durham, North Carolina. After leaving the state to attend school up at Columbia University, she returned when she attempted to apply to then-segregated University of North Carolina.

She was rejected, and in response wrote letters to President Roosevelt and other officials in protest. A few years later she and a female partner were arrested for sitting in the whites-only section of a bus. Both of these cases were considered by the NAACP, but ultimately the organization pulled out of representing her. Some speculate this was due in part to the fact that Murray had open romantic relationships with women and dressed in masculine clothing, occasionally presenting as a man. Despite resistance, Murray went on to become the first black deputy attorney general in California. Her critique of state segregation and the “separate but equal” facilities later influenced the court case Brown vs Board of Education. In addition to her contributions to black civil rights, she founded the National Organization for Women (NOW) in 1966.

Murray had been excluded from the discussion of the Civil Rights Movement and Feminist Movement, but there has been a recent resurgence of her interest in her and her work. In addition to her activism, she was an author and poet. You can read about her family history in the book Proud Shoes, which describes the lives of her ancestors who lived and worked in Durham. Fans of poetry can read her poems in Dark Testament and Other Poems. Those interested in learning more about Murray herself are invited to check out Song in a Weary Throat, an autobiography, or the oral history interviews available online via the “Oral Histories of the American South Project.”  

Harriet Ann Jacob's 206th Birthday

Today, February 11th, is the birthday of abolitionist Harriet Ann Jacobs. She is best known for her moving autobiography, Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl. Her book, first published under the name “Linda Brent,” tells the story of the sexual abuse she suffered as the slave of Dr. James Norcom and her life after her escape.

For years after her escape, she hid in the home of her grandmother, Molly Horniblow, before finally fleeing North Carolina in 1842, eventually ending up in New York. She was later reunited with her children, and much of Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl recounted her attempts to free them.

Jacobs used her story to promote the abolitionist movement. Her book was one of the first to discuss the plight of female slaves, and was written to sway the hearts of Northern white women. After the publication of her book she continued to advocate for black Americans both in the United States and overseas. During the Civil War she nursed black soldiers by her daughter’s side, and after raised money for refugees from slavery.

More about her story and legacy can be found within the pages of Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl. Visitors to Edenton, North Carolina can tour sites from her early life, including the site where Molly Horniblow's house once stood.

North Carolina Cooking

Thanksgiving is coming up fast, have you decided what you're serving this year? If not, why not consider some North Carolina recipes?

The NC Literary Map has a genre dedicated to Carolina cooking, where you can find special recipes from the mountains to the coast. You could try out Mama Dip's Kitchen, a cookbook written by famed cook Mildred Council. It features over 250 recipes, with everything from old-fashioned Southern chicken pie to traditional desserts. Or consider Victuals: An Appalachian Journey by Ronni Lundi, which features a collection of Appalachian recipes as well as information about the history and culture of the region.

You can find dozens of North Carolina cookbooks at the NC Literary Map which are sure to inspire your inner chef. If one looks promising, check it out at your local bookstore or library. Have a safe and happy Thanksgiving!

UNCG's Gorman and Smith Represent the North Carolina Literary Map at NCWN Conference

Dr. Keith Gorman, Head of Special Collections and Archives at the University of North Carolina-Greensboro and Kathelene Smith, UNCG's Instruction and Outreach Archivist and Assistant Professor represented the North Carolina Literary Map at the 2018 North Carolina Writers' Conference, November 2-4 in Charlotte, NC. The North Carolina Writers' Network connects writers across North Carolina with education, recognition, and critique opportunities and resources.

Below, Dr. Gorman is pictured with North Carolina playwright, actor, composer, and essayist, Shelley Stolaroff Segal.

Haunted North Carolina

Happy Halloween to our NC Literary Map followers!

Regardless of how you spend your Halloween, ghost stories are always an excellent way to get into the Halloween spirit. North Carolina is home to dozens of ghost stories, and one of the most persistent tales is the story of Lydia, the Phantom Hitchhiker. According to local tales, she haunted the stretch of road along the US 70-A south of Jamestown. Legend tells that she would ask for a ride home, and if accepted, would disappear upon reaching her destination.

For years this story has been passed around, and now authors Michael Renegar and Amy Greer explore the truth behind the tale. Uncover the story that lurks behind the legend with Looking for Lydia: The Thirty-Year Search for the Jamestown Hitchhiker today, and discover more ghost stories set in North Carolina at the North Carolina Literary Map.

F. Scott Fitzgerald's 112nd Birthday

Monday, September 24th, was F. Scott Fitzgerald’s 112nd birthday. Best known for his classic book, The Great Gatsby, those who haven’t had the chance to visit Western Carolina may not know that Fitzgerald had ties to our state.

During the summers of 1935 and 1936, Fitzgerald stayed in Asheville, North Carolina to rest after contracting tuberculosis. Western Carolina had become a popular destination for such getaways, as the mountain air was thought to be good for the lungs. Fitzgerald stayed at the renown Grove Park Inn, and rented out two rooms: one for working, the other for writing. The summers spent there were a low period in his life. Fitzgerald was reportedly trying to cure his addiction to gin with what was known as the “beer cure,” and wrote short stories to pay debts and bills. One story written at that time, “I’d Die for You (The Legend of Lake Lure),” was set in Western NC and featured a young actress who had come to the area to star in a movie. He left North Carolina in 1937, heading west to Hollywood with the hopes of reigniting his career. His wife, Zelda, remained in the southeast, traveling between Asheville’s Highland Hospital for treatment and her mother’s home in Montgomery, Alabama.

"I'd Die for You (The Legend of Lake Lure)" and other lesser-known Fitzgerald short stories can be read in the book I'd Die for You: And Other Lost Stories. Find it and other Fitzgerald classics at your local bookstore or library. The North Carolina Literary Map also now features a tour of Fitzgerald’s life in Western NC, that may serve as a guide for tourists or may be explored virtually. Discover more about our state's literary heritage today!

LGBT Pride Month

June is LGBT Pride Month! It was first officially recognized by President Bill Clinton in 1999, the month of June was chosen to commemorate the Stonewall Riots, a pivotal moment in American LGBT History.

This month we would like to highlight the life and works of Bertha Harris. Bertha Harris was born in Fayetteville, North Carolina in 1936. She studied at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and moved to New York City in the 1960s, but her work has often been inspired by her experiences in the South.

Harris’ writing is defined by her inventive and experimental narrative styles. Her first novel, Catching Saradove, is the most rooted in convention. The novel is set in New York City and North Carolina, and is semi-autobiographical, exploring the themes of feminism and other social movements that permeated the 1960s. Her most ambitious work, however, is considered to be the novel Lover. Lover is a postmodernist work that rejects narrative for an experimental style. It has themes of radical lesbian philosophy and features characters both fictional and historical.

Those interested in lesbian and feminist fiction will find her works revealing and engaging. She is very highly regarded by critics and her work resonates with contemporary and modern feminists alike. Harris died in 2005, at the time she had been working on her fourth novel, a comedy entitled Mi Contra Fa. Although this novel was unfortunately never published, you can find Harris’ other works at your local bookstore or library. Celebrate Pride Month by supporting the work of local LGBT authors, and learning about their experiences through their writing.