Voices of Princeville
Princeville, North Carolina is the oldest town chartered by blacks in America. Originally founded as Freedom Hill in 1865 by formerly enslaved African Americans at the end of the Civil War, the town was built on the unwanted and flood-prone lands adjacent to the Tar River. The town has flooded multiple times throughout its history, and each time, residents evacuate and then return to rebuild.
The Voices of Princeville exhibit highlights the resilience of Princeville’s residents. Resilience to floods. Resilience to racial injustice. And the refusal to give up on the town for which their predecessors fought so hard. Using quotes from oral history interviews to showcase the voices of community members, we explore the connection between the town’s historical and cultural significance and its future resilience.
Voices of Princeville is currently installed and available to the public in the Princeville Mobile Museum. To learn more about the Mobile Museum, public events and hours, contact the Town of Princeville.
Town of Princeville Website
Voices of Princeville exhibit installed in the Princeville Mobile Museum.
Listen to the Voices of Princeville…
PAST
HISTORY OF FLOODING
James Edwards Bridger
“Why people come back… like I said before, a man’s home is his castle. And you just love where you were born and raised.” – J. Bridgers
Dr. Delores Porter
“I’ve heard the stories about floods in the past, Princeville has always flooded. But those floods were not as major as Floyd… Those floods were up to the porches— three or four feet. But never to 10 feet, 15 feet.” – D. Porter
HURRICANE FLOYD
Margie Cofield
“…the water was coming…just like a horse galloping…” – M. Cofield
Calvin Adkins
“I’m from Princeville, North Carolina, the oldest town in America chartered by blacks. Where are you from?” – C. Adkins
HURRICANE MATTHEW
Linda Joyner
“…the river became a human to me, the river was like a bully…We thought it was going over the dike and it changed its mind…that’s when it began to seem like a bully. We’re going to play with you and see how you’re gonna handle it.”– L. Joyner
Linda Wosley
“They were telling us we were in a 100 year floodplain…had no idea that we were going to be right back in the same situation 17 years later.”– L. Worsley
PRIDE
WHY REBUILD
Felecia Cofield
“They love Princeville… they love the history.” – F. Cofield
Linda Worsley
“I am living in a place where freed slaves were brave enough, smart enough, intelligent enough to build their own town…” – L. Worsley
James Edwards Bridgers
“Why people come back… like I said before, a man’s home is his castle. And you just love where you were born and raised.” – J. Bridgers
Calvin Adkins
“I’m from Princeville, North Carolina, the oldest town in America chartered by blacks. Where are you from?” – C. Adkins
FUTURE
RESILIENCE
Linda Joyner, Princeville Mayor Pro Tem
“Resilience doesn’t have to always be a fight. Resilience is a stick-to-it-y…resilience is making it good for somebody else, right? So today Princeville is flourishing like this because somebody stood through the test of time…” – L. Joyner
Bobbie Jones, Princeville Mayor
“No, we’re not going nowhere. This is the oldest town chartered by blacks in America. That has major significance to not only Princeville, not only North Carolina, but to the world. If we do this right and we present ourselves in a positive light and people understand who we are, people will want to come. And we’ll generate income…for the town of Princeville, that we can do more things for the town of Princeville and for our citizens.” – B. Jones
Calvin Adkins
“…we don’t call it resilience, we just live it” – C. Adkins
THE FUTURE OF PRINCEVILLE
Linda Joyner, Princeville Mayor Pro Tem
“I always hear the laughter of children, kids in the park, on the swings, playing basketball, riding bicycles…I just want that to be the life of Princeville, the young people enjoying it.
I believe that is the future of Princeville…bigger, better, and bolder.” – L. Joyner
Full Recordings of Interviews Available Here:
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
TEAM
Dr. Cynthia Grace-McCaskey
East Carolina University Department of Anthropology & Integrated Coastal Programs
Kayla Clark
University of Wyoming Haub School, Graphic Design
Kayla Evans
Graduate student, East Carolina University Department of Anthropology
SPECIAL THANKS
Dr. Glenda Knight
Princeville Town Manager
Andrew DeIonno
Upper Coastal Plain Council of Governments
Rydedrick Porter
Princeville Public Works Director
Dr. Susan Pearce
East Carolina University
Dr. Lynn Harris
East Carolina University
CONTRIBUTORS
Calvin Adkins
James Edward Bridgers
Felecia Cofield
Margie Cofield
Bobbie Jones
Princeville Mayor
Linda Joyner
Princeville Mayor Pro Tem
Dr. Delores Porter
Linda Worsley