We hope this hub will help you understand how the leaders, organizers, protestors, and everyday activists who came before us created a legacy that inspires local activism today.

To learn stories of activism in Durham, click on the buttons below and view each of the six StoryMaps.

Explore stories of activism through the thematic modules above. Each module is accompanied by curriculum resources, including a digital interactive notebook and lesson plan.


A Firebrand’s Guide: Durham’s History of Activism was inspired by the legacy of Rev. Dr. Pauli Murray, who was referred to as a “firebrand,” - someone who is passionate about a particular cause, who incites change and takes radical action.


A Firebrand’s Guide: Durham’s History of Activism was made possible through generous funding from the Josiah Charles Trent Memorial Foundation.

This project was created by consultants Kate Borchard Schoen and Frances Starn with support from the Pauli Murray Center for History and Social Justice.