In recognition of Black History Month, Chatham Community Library and the Community Remembrance Coalition - Chatham (CRC-C)  will co-sponsor a lecture by Mr. David Morrow of the Los Angeles area.  The program, entitled "Patriots of Color in Chatham County: Untold Stories", will discuss the many contributions of Chatham County’s free people of color during the Revolutionary War.  The program will be held via Zoom on Saturday, February 19, 2022, from 2:00 – 3:30 p.m. 

As early as 1775, African Americans fought bravely in battles such as Lexington and Concord, NC.  Even though many were members of state militias, the recruitment of free African Americans into the regular army was discouraged, and slaves were not permitted to serve. This prohibition stemmed from the fear of armed slave revolts. Slave owners drafted into the army often sent slaves as substitutes. (Black Americans in Defense of Our Nation . Dept. of Defense, Office of the Deputy Asst. Secretary. 1985)

Morrow began researching and documenting his own unique family history in 2007. Since then, his personal family tree has grown to over 6,000 names across multiple states and countries. He was the first in his family to prove lineage to a Black patriot and the first Black member of the Los Angeles Chapter of the Society of the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR).

He is also the co-founder of  the Facebook group "Native & Free People of Color of Alamance, Chatham, Caswell, Granville, and Orange Counties in North Carolina".  With over 600 members the group has become a valuable resource for the North Carolina African American genealogy community. 

This program is free and open to the public.  Registration is required and is available by clicking HERE.

Support for this program is made possible by the generosity of the Friends of the Chatham Community Library and by CRC-C.