Civil Rights Committee to Host Tours at CTD

UPDATE: Monday, Mar. 16 – Noon *** The Carolina Theatre has rescheduled the Feb. 24 date for the visitor tour of the venue’s Civil Rights exhibit: “Confronting Change”  to Monday, March 23 from 3-5 p.m.  Civil Rights Committee members Vivian McCoy, Claudine Daye Lewis, Vera Whisenton and Carl Whisenton will be present.

UPDATE: Tuesday, Feb. 24 – 11 a.m.  *** The tour of the ‘Confronting Change’ Civil Rights exhibit at the Carolina Theatre scheduled for 3 p.m. this afternoon has been postponed due to the winter weather conditions. The Carolina Theatre and its Civil Rights Committee will work together to reschedule the tour date in March.

The Carolina Theatre of Durham has reserved special hours this February so visitors may schedule tours of the venue’s “Confronting Change” exhibit, which is dedicated to community members who helped desegregate the theatre through peaceful protests — and change the course of history — in the Civil Rights era. Several committee members who helped develop this permanent exhibit will be present during these hours to tell the story of the protests to visitors.

In 2012-13, a committee of community members who were involved in Civil Rights era protests assembled, curated and produced the “Confronting Change” exhibit at the Carolina Theatre. The powerful display, which was made possible by private donations and generous support from PNC Bank, opened last February to honor the peaceful protests and resolute protestors who helped desegregate the city-owned theatre via a landmark court case in 1963.

In commemoration of Black History Month this February, the members of the Civil Rights Committee will lead tours of the museum-like exhibit, which has been permanently installed on the third level of the theatre. Having been involved in the actual desegregation of the theatre, these committee members will be able to tell the true story behind this amazing transition from a first-person perspective.

Guests who arrive at the venue at the times listed below will be greeted by a theatre staff member, asked to sign in and then led to the exhibit where committee members will provide information on the display and may answer questions about its content.

The special hours of the “Confronting Change” exhibit are as follows (with volunteers scheduled to be present):

Monday, Feb. 9,  1-3 p.m.  – Tours led by Jackie Jones and Kaye Sullivan

Tuesday, Feb. 24, 3-5 p.m. – Tours led by Vivian McCoy and Claudine Daye Lewis    POSTPONED; New Date TBD

In word and in deed, the dedicated committee members have created a lasting monument to the important changes made in Durham during the Civil Rights era and ensured that everyone will remember the work done to end the theatre’s segregationist policies through peaceful protest and laudable litigation.

As always, guests who are unable to view the exhibit during the designated times are welcome to do so by appointment during the Box Office hours of 11 a.m.- 6 p.m. from Monday through Friday. Interested parties may contact Carolina Theatre Guest Relations Representative Rebeka Todd at (919) 226-8879. to arrange an appointment.