NC African American Heritage Commission

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NC African American Heritage Commission This is the official page of the North Carolina African American Heritage Commission, a division of DNCR.

The North Carolina General Assembly created the African American Heritage Commission (AAHC) in 2008 to “assist the Secretary of Cultural Resources in the preservation, interpretation, and promotion of African American history, arts, and culture.” With this legislation the AAHC has identified African American heritage practitioners, such as curators, docents, and museum directors, as priority service populations. The AAHC was recognized as a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources in 2017, after being housed in the the Office of Archives and History and the North Carolina Arts Council. The commission works across the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources to achieve the mission of preserving, protecting, and promoting North Carolina’s African American history, art, and culture, for all people.

19/10/2026
14/10/2026

We are happy to share that NC Freedom Park is fully open again for visitors to enjoy the space. We appreciate everyone’s support and are excited to welcome you to NC Freedom Park!

Interim Director Natalie Rodriguez had the privilege of attending the ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Plummer Hook & Ladd...
14/10/2026

Interim Director Natalie Rodriguez had the privilege of attending the ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Plummer Hook & Ladder Fire Museum this past weekend. Visitors had a wonderful experience learning about African American firefighters in North Carolina.

10/10/2026
10/10/2026
Happy 100th Birthday John Coltrane! Born in Hamlet and raised in High Point, NC, Coltrane was a legendary saxophonist th...
23/09/2026

Happy 100th Birthday John Coltrane! Born in Hamlet and raised in High Point, NC, Coltrane was a legendary saxophonist that propelled the style of avant-garde jazz.

Dubbed a "Jazz messiah," Coltrane began his musical training in high school, learning to play the E-flat alto horn, clarinet, and saxophone. Coltrane later moved to Philadelphia where he made his professional debut in 1945. After his return from serving in the U.S. Navy, Coltane went on to collaborate with the likes of Dizzy Gillespie, Thelonious Monk, and Miles Davis.

In 1960, Coltrane formed his own band and through it, won acclaimed awards such as the Down Beat award for being America's best tenor saxophonist, Jazzman of the Year, and Record of the Year for the composition and recording of "A Love Supreme."

Coltrane's unique, spiritual, and free style of play characterizes him as an influential figure in jazz music today.

Happy Birthday John Coltrane!

Image: Courtesy of the State Archives of North Carolina

19/09/2026
19/09/2026

On Wednesday evening, September 23, we are celebrating John Coltrane, one of North Carolina’s most influential cultural figures and a transformative force in American music and global jazz.

To celebrate his 100th birthday, we will be screening "Chasing Trane: The John Coltrane Documentary" (2017).

This screening is the first event celebrating Coltrane, but it continues February 24-26, 2027, with a three-day youth jazz residency with JazzReach, a nonprofit that partners with local schools to bring Coltrane's music to the next generation.
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Photo: Courtesy of Concord Originals

Thank you Wake County Public Libraries for hosting our Stewards of Change traveling exhibit.
17/09/2026

Thank you Wake County Public Libraries for hosting our Stewards of Change traveling exhibit.

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