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Black History Month
The Town of Carrboro is proud to recognize and celebrate Black people and Black history in Carrboro and across the nation during Black History Month.
All residents are encouraged to participate in local Black History Month events and to learn about and celebrate the lives, history, and contributions of Black people this month and throughout the year.
The Town is committed to advancing racial equity and has recently taken several actions in support of this commitment.
The Town of Carrboro envisions being a community where race does not determine outcomes and all have equitable opportunities and resources. We envision a time when participation in community events, programs and advisory boards represents community demographics. All will feel safe and secure, knowing their voice is valued. We strive to be an inclusive and open-minded organization that has a culture created by its diverse staff, which serves the public through a social (racial) justice lens. Learn more at our Race and Equity page.
Read the 2025 Proclamation for Black History Month.
Carrboro Celebrates Black History Month
2026 Schedule of Events
Tuesday, Feb. 3 |
Poet’s Open Mic 7 to 9 p.m. via Zoom |
Wednesday, Feb. 4 |
Black History Month Senior Bingo
10 to 11:30 a.m. at the Drakeford Library Complex, 203 S. Greensboro St., Carrboro NC 27510 |
Friday, Feb. 6 |
Hayti Heritage Center Trip 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. meet at Town Commons Parking Lot, 301 W. Main St. Carrboro NC 27510 |
Monday, Feb. 9 |
“A Century of Black History Commemorations” with Dasan Ahanu and Dr. Freddie Parker 6 to 8 p.m. at the Drakeford Library Complex, 203 S. Greensboro St., Carrboro NC 27510 |
Sunday, Feb. 15 |
Black History Month Concert featuring Melodies for Healing 4:30 p.m. at the Drakeford Library Complex, 203 S. Greensboro St., Carrboro NC 27510 |
Sunday, Feb. 15 |
"Black History Hall of Fame" Theater Production 3 p.m. at Carrboro Century Center, 100 N. Greensboro St., Carrboro NC 27510 |
Monday, Feb. 16 |
“A Century of Black History Commemorations” with Amos Quick III and Dr. Ivy Taylor
6 to 8 p.m. at the Drakeford Library Complex, 203 S. Greensboro St., Carrboro NC 27510 |
Sunday, Feb. 22 |
Black History Month Concert featuring The Four Seasons 3 p.m. at the Drakeford Library Complex, 203 S. Greensboro St., Carrboro NC 27510 |
Saturday, Feb. 28 |
Health & Wellness Fair
10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Carrboro Century Center, 100 N. Greensboro St., Carrboro NC 27510 |
Sunday, Mar. 8 |
Black History Month Concert featuring Kay Marion & The Neo Symphony
4:30 p.m. at the Drakeford Library Complex, 203 S. Greensboro St., Carrboro NC 27510 |
Check out our Celebrating Black America Playlist on YouTube!
Visit our YouTube playlist throughout the month as we add footage from our 2026 Black History Month Events.
Artists & Speakers
Sisters Linda and Rebecca Lee began singing in 1967 and were known as the Lee Sisters. In that same year, on one September Sunday night, Linda and Rebecca were practicing the song "How Great Thou Art” when Rebecca asked their brother, Matthew, to come sing with them. After hearing this beautiful tenor voice, the Lee Trio was born -- a prayer come true for their father, Floyd Lee Sr. The Lee Trio sang from November 1967 to February 1969 at various churches.
In March 1969, while practicing for a talent program at St. John Baptist Church in Williamsburg, Va., the Trio noticed a great bass voice in their nephew, Douglas Lee Jr. That was the beginning of the Four Seasons. The name reflects that each one was born in a different season of the year -- Linda in the winter, Rebecca in the spring, Douglas in the summer, and Matthew in the fall. Thus, the Four Seasons.
From March 1969 to November 1976, the Four Seasons sang in churches all along the east coast from Washington, D.C., on down, at an event for the NAACP, and on the Robert Foster Gospel Radio Program. In 1976, Matthew went into the Army, followed by Rebecca joining the Army a year later. In 1980, Linda moved to Raleigh, N.C.
In 1991, the Lee Family held a reunion, and the Four Seasons were asked to sing. They had not sung together in 15 years. When they stood up to sing, all were surprised that what their director and manager, Mr. Floyd Lee Sr., had instilled was still present in their voices and presence.
In 2013, nephew Douglas Lee Jr. passed away. Following this loss, their youngest sister, Delores Lee, began singing with the group. She was born in summer just like Douglas. “The Spirit of God continues to richly bless us. We praise our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for always being with us!”
Multigenre vocalist Kay Marion is a lively, high-spirited musician from High Point, NC who has enjoyed a diverse career in vocal performances, theater and arts advocacy. Her passion for the performing arts has led to her training in several fields including film/television, theatre, classical performance, jazz, and R&B and Soul performance.
She acquired Bachelor of Arts degrees in Music and Public Policy from UNC-Chapel Hill and the Master of Music in Vocal Performance from Longy School of Music of Bard College. Her band, the Neo-Symphony, and her background vocalists, the Velvet Dream, assist Kay Marion in her mission of elevating the neo-soul genre by guiding audiences back to their own divinity. James Solomon, Ivo Pestana, Joseph Cline, and Kweli Huskey-Littlejohn make up the core members of the Neo-Symphony.
Melodies 4 Healing is a 501c3, non-profit organization whose mission is to connect local communities with musical performances that boost people’s moods and well-being. According to the American Music Therapy Association, music therapy interventions can address a variety of healthcare and educational goals, including promoting wellness, managing stress, alleviating pain and enhancing memory.
Melodies 4 Healing speaks for itself. “But it’s also significant that we chose numeral 4 to be a part our name. For us, that number symbolizes healing spiritually, emotionally, mentally, and physically through song. It is our goal reach each one of those through the music that we share with our audiences.”
Melodies 4 Healing is committed to “Creating Memories and Healing Hearts, One Note at a Time.”
Pastor and NC Representative Amos L. Quick III is a lifelong North Carolina resident and serves as pastor of Friendship Baptist Church in Lexington, N.C. He holds degrees from UNC-Wilmington and Andersonville Theological Seminary and is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc.
Representative Quick has an extensive history in youth development work and has served as executive director of the Salvation Army Boys & Girls Clubs of Greensboro; family advocate for Guilford Child Development; program coordinator for the Black Child Development Institute of Greensboro; and founder of the Martin Luther King Jr. Violence Prevention Program aimed at teaching youth mediation skills to prevent violence. He has also served as a radio personality on both WJMH and WQMG radio stations, and as the community affairs director for the local affiliate of Entercom Broadcasting.
A longtime advocate for youth and families, he has led numerous community initiatives and previously served as vice-chair of the Guilford County Board of Education for 11 years. Pastor Quick has represented District 58 in the NC House of Representatives since 2017. He is a devoted father and grandfather.
Dasan Ahanu is an award-winning poet, playwright, cultural organizer, performing artist, and scholar. He is a Southern storyteller who uses stories to deepen our understanding and awareness of what's happening around us.
Dasan is an educator who has taught at various institutions, an alumnus of Harvard University's Nasir Jones Fellowship, and North Carolina's 2023 Piedmont Laureate for poetry. He has served various artistic leadership roles and consistently reinvests his talents.
A respected recording artist, Dasan has collaborated with many Jazz, Soul, and Hip-Hop artists in North Carolina. He has published extensively, performed nationwide, and authored seven poetry collections. Dasan has been active in poetry slam, participating in regional and national competitions as a founding member and coach of the Bull City Slam Team. He is the co-founder and managing director of Black Poetry Theatre, an African American theatre company that creates and presents productions centering on spoken word and Hip Hop.
He is a builder who works with organizations and institutions to develop effective arts strategies that enhance their community work.
Dr. Freddie Parker was born and reared in Hillsborough, N.C. He received the B.A. in History from NC Central University in 1975, the M.A. in History from NCCU in 1977, and the Ph.D. in American History from UNC-Chapel Hill in 1987. He is currently professor emeritus, and former Julius L. Chambers Endowed Professor of History at NC Central University in Durham, N.C. He taught American, African American, and African history at NC Central University for 50 years (1975-2025).
He is author of the books, Running for Freedom: Slave Runaways in NC, 1775-1840 and Stealing a Little Freedom: Advertisements for Slave Runaways in NC, 1791-1840. Dr. Parker served on the NC Historical Commission, the NC African American Heritage Commission, the NC Historical Highway Marker Commission (chair), among other boards and state commissions.
He is a recipient of the Christopher Crittenden Award for his career contributions to the historical profession in North Carolina. In February 2020, Governor Roy Cooper awarded him the Certificate of Appreciation for his exemplary service and invaluable contributions made to North Carolina’s community and education culture.
A decade ago, Ivy Taylor was Mayor Taylor, serving three years as San Antonio’s top elected official. Now the Carolina alum is back in Chapel Hill. Dr. Ivy Taylor is a prominent leader in public service and higher education, known for her time as the first Black woman mayor of San Antonio (2014-2017) and later the first female president of Rust College (2020-2023).
Currently she’s a Professor of the Practice in Public Leadership at the UNC-Chapel Hill School of Government and Director of Local Relations for the UNC System in Chapel Hill, focusing on bridging university and community efforts.
