Stories of NC Black Veterans

The Ongoing Fight for Freedom: Stories of NC Black Veterans

Discover a powerful video series written and performed by Dr. Sonny Kelly, founder of Legacy Heirs Productions. These videos bring to life the stories of Black freedom fighters and veterans with ties to North Carolina. On and off the battlefield, these individuals fought for liberty, equality, and the promise of American democracy, even as they were denied its full benefits.

Each video spotlights a different hero, some celebrated and others largely unknown, whose courage, sacrifice, and resilience shaped our nation’s history. By exploring their journeys, we gain a deeper understanding of America’s founding ideals and the hope to continue the work of making those ideals real for everyone.

Abraham Galloway

Elmer Gibson

Golden Frinks

Isaac Carter & Ned Griffin

Henry Johnson

Isaac Hammond

John Chavis

Lucy Nichols

Robert Williams

Sarah Evans & Dovie Roundtree

Thomas Peters

William Henry Singleton

Wilson Eagleson

This series was collaboratively written and is performed by Dr. Sonny Kelly, founder of Legacy Heirs Productions. The play’s development was commissioned & funded by the NC Department of Natural & Cultural Resources’ America 250 NC initiative & produced by the Learning Happens Here initiative of the NC Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, in collaboration with Carolina K-12.