The Town of Fuquay-Varina is set to celebrate Black History Month with an event dedicated to reflecting on the integration of Fuquay-Varina High School, along with other significant milestones in local history. Named Inspiration In Integration, the gathering is scheduled for February 22 at 2:00 pm at the Fuquay-Varina Arts Center and promises to offer a blend of storytelling, music, spoken word, and personal reflections from those who witnessed the changes firsthand.
Moderated by Dwayne Garnett, the afternoon includes a retelling of the Brown v. Board of Education decision by Carolyn Evans, whose storytelling presentation may provide attendees with a deeper appreciation of the landmark case. Additionally, George Kimble, an alumnus of Fuquay Consolidated High School, is expected to perform the original school alma mater, an anthem from a time before the landmark integration; later in the program, current Fuquay-Varina High School students will deliver the alma mater that came to be after the schools unified. In a statement obtained by the Town of Fuquay-Varina's social media post, organizers highlighted the involvement of artist Shawn Harris (FlowEssence) who will present a spoken word piece titled "For Those Who Cleared the Way."
Panelists including Shirley Simmons, Gail Woolard, Teddy Jones, Carl Trice, Brenda Davis Cameron, Marilyn Gardner, and Gwendolyn Brown, will share their memories and reflections on the period of integration. Their firsthand accounts promise to provide, a unique lens on this transformative chapter in the town's history. Mayor William Harris, himself a proud graduate of the formerly segregated Fuquay Consolidated High School, will also offer remarks on the enduring influence of integration on the community.
Tickets for this immersion into the shared history and heritage of Fuquay-Varina can be obtained through FVBlackHistory.org.
