Celebrate Black History: Old Fort Mural

Fundraising Goal: 20,000
Contribute via our GoFundMe Campaign or click here  to make a tax-deductible charitable contribution,
or send a check to:
West Marion Community Forum, Inc.
220 West Grayson Street
Marion, NC 28752

All proceeds will go toward making the Mural complete.

Purpose
Bring visibility to the history and contributions of the Black community in Old Fort, NC. Special recognition of Albert Joyner and George Sandlin, Civil Rights Activists.

Mural Installation Date
The mural will be installed September 13-19 on the former Sandlin theatre, and then later law office of George Sandlin in downtown Old Fort, NC.  Events will be planned the whole week to share the story of Albert and George’s activism and celebrate the Black community’s current and historical contributions to the Town of Old Fort.

Mural Artist
The mural artist is Don Rimx. Click here  to visit his website.
 
Purpose of the Mural Project
People on the Move for Old Fort will create a mural that highlights the history and achievements of the Black community in Old Fort. Our goal is to show the visibility of the Black community. "Our souls are in the dirt here, but that is not reflected in the dominant historical narrative of Old Fort," said Tonia Plummer, Planning Team Member of People on the Move for Old Fort. Our vision is for this mural to unify the community, build pride, and lift up calls for racial justice and unity. Our hope is for this mural to spark discussions and help heal the community.
 
Story Behind the Mural
The mural will celebrate the courage of Albert Joyner and George Sandlin, civil rights leaders in Old Fort, NC. They worked together to preserve the Catawba View Grammar School that was beloved by the Black community. The land for the school and construction was collectively funded by the Black community – some of whom mortgaged their own homes to build a school for their children. In September of 1950, local officials decided to shut down the school and bus its 75 elementary students to an all-Black school in Marion (a 30-mile trip). The parents retained George Sandlin, a local attorney to help preserve the school, however despite their efforts, the school was destroyed two years later.
 
In 1955, Mr. Joyner accompanied a group of Black children as they marched and protested the closure of their school and requested to enroll in an all-white school in Old Fort. The students marched through main street carrying signs saying, “We Want Our School Back,” and “What Happened to Our School.” Mr. Joyner led the children through a hostile crowd of 300 to 400 people who lined the route. He tried to register the children to attend the all white Old Fort Elementary school instead of being bused to Marion. The county superintendent would not allow the children to register. A few weeks later, Mr. Joyner was attacked by a white man for his support of the children’s protests. As the Old Fort integration case was argued in court, Mr. Joyner was always present and never backed down from intimidations and threats. Mr. Sandlin also faced threats and stood by the Black community. This mural will celebrate their courage and activism in the brutality of systemic racism.
 
“When we purchased our building in Old Fort, we simply wanted to know the year it was built.  We had no idea we were about to uncover one of the earliest civil rights attempts in NC.  We knew this was a story that needed to be shared.” This public demonstration is even more remarkable when we realize how early this act of defiance was within the context of what we now know as the Civil Rights Movement:
·      It was two years after President Truman had integrated the Armed Forces by executive order
·      It was two years after Martin Luther King, Jr. became an ordained minister and seven years before he formed the Southern   Christian Leadership Conference to fight segregation
·      It was four years before the Supreme Court Brown vs. Board of Education decision that desegregated American schools
 
Mission of People on the Move for Old Fort
The mission of People on the Move for Old Fort is to engage residents in community building efforts that result in a more inclusive and equitable town. We work to (1) Bring visibility to the assets, challenges, and leadership of Black communities in Old Fort; (2) Advocate for equitable community development initiatives; and (3) Build a multi-racial movement to uproot entrenched power structures and advance health equity for all.  
 
People on the Move for Old Fort works to center people of color in conversations and plans that are important to their health and well-being. The Black community has been historically excluded from decision-making spaces in the Town of Old Fort – although they make up an estimated 30% of the community. As a newly formed group, they are leading community projects to connect their neighborhoods, support youth of color, build collaborations between Black churches, support Black entrepreneurs, and address voter disenfranchisement with Town officials. The purpose of this group is to advocate for inclusive, just, and fair community development initiatives.
 
If we surpass our fundraising goal for the mural, funds will be re-allocated to support the budget for activities hosted by People on the Move for Old Fort.
 
Mural Team
·      Lavita Logan, Project Consultant for People on the Move for Old Fort
·      Tonia Plummer, People on the Move for Old Fort Planning Team
·      Kim Effler, Old Fort Community Forum 
·      Jerome Effler, Old Fort Board of Alderman
·      Paula Swepson-Avery, West Marion Community Forum
·      Ginger Webb, Community Engagement Project
·      Mary Snow, Equitable Community Strategies
·      Jen Billstrom, Velo Girls Rides
·      Dan Allison, Old Fort Leader
·      Perry Houlditch, Western Carolina University, MFA Graduate Student