{"id":5349,"date":"2016-02-23T13:30:33","date_gmt":"2016-02-23T18:30:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ncseagrant.ncsu.edu\/coastwatch\/?page_id=5349"},"modified":"2024-07-03T08:34:06","modified_gmt":"2024-07-03T12:34:06","slug":"beyond-the-beach-african-american-history-in-coastal-carolina","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ncseagrant.ncsu.edu\/coastwatch\/beyond-the-beach-african-american-history-in-coastal-carolina\/","title":{"rendered":"Beyond The Beach: African-American History in Coastal Carolina"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n\n
Cynthia Sharpe is a communications intern with North Carolina Sea Grant. She is a senior majoring in English at North Carolina State University.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n North Carolina\u2019s coastal region is not just a destination for fishing, bird watching and enjoying sunny beaches. It is a region of history. Eastern North Carolina has many sites that reflect the richness of African-American life over the years, and places that always deserve attention, not just during February\u2019s celebrations of black history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n These locations reflect the ups, the downs, the work and the culture of African-American communities during and after slavery. This summer, pack a few lunches, gather the family and hop in the vehicle for an adventure that will take you to some beautiful places, and leave you more knowledgeable about African-American heritage in coastal North Carolina.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Begin the journey at the top of the state. The Great Dismal Swamp<\/strong>, shared by Gates, Pasquotank and Camden counties, stretches into Virginia. The N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation manages a portion of the swamp as a state park, while the majority is a National Wildlife Refuge, under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.<\/p>\n\n\n\nSWAMP AS SANCTUARY<\/h2>\n\n\n\n