Larry Sutton, Sampson County
How has North Carolina shaped your own story?
"The fact that North Carolina has not been able to fully come to terms with its racist past motivates me to strive to make the state a more just and equitable place to live."
Tell us something about your town, city, or community.
"My hometown shares many of the same traits and qualities as the state of North Carolina. However, there is a yearning in the city of Clinton to take the steps toward becoming a more just and equitable place to live."
Tell us about someone who made or makes North Carolina what it is—in a positive way.
"That someone who has made North Carolina more of what it should be is from my hometown of Clinton, Sampson County. Born enslaved on September 7, 1859, John Merrick left Clinton at the age of 12, traveling on a path that eventually led him to Durham, NC. In Durham, NC, Merrick became the epitome of Black success in North Carolina and the entire country, organizing what became the largest Black owned insurance company in the country, the NC Mutual Life Insurance Company. Through my efforts, a campaign has been waged to memorialize his legacy in Clinton, Sampson County."