Ed Caldwell, Jr. - On the African American freedom struggle and Civil Rights Movement in Chapel Hill
Interviewed by John Kenyon "Yonni" Chapman on March 27, 1991
“We wanted integration, so we could have the same opportunities."
- Ed Caldwell, Jr.
During this oral history, Ed Caldwell, Jr. recounts his youth and adult career in Chapel Hill. Main focuses were the discussion of African American education, differences between areas and groups in the town, and a discussion of the Civil Rights Movement and its effects in Chapel Hill. Born and raised in Chapel Hill, Ed Caldwell’s life was marked by interest in educational attainment fueled by his family ties. He discusses how Chapel Hill and Carrboro were extremely different and held hatred for one another. Mr. Caldwell discusses the importance of African American schooling in Chapel Hill and the effect that the Civil Rights Movement had on outcomes. Additionally, he discusses his role as a member of the School Board and the struggles he fought for decades to overcome. Throughout the interview, there is a theme of emphasizing the importance of African Americans' impact on Chapel Hill as they were the ones who helped build the town and shaped it into what it is today.
Audio recordings of interviews conducted by Yonni Chapman with participants in the African American freedom struggle and the civil rights movement in and around Chapel Hill, N.C.
