African-American Heritage Commission

The North Carolina African-American Heritage Commission presented findings today of an information-gathering process that involved more than 200 citizens and spanned six communities. Acting director Michelle Lanier says the commission will focus on four priority goals of sustainability, partnerships, recognition and awareness:

"I think when we recognize that the African-American story is an American story, is a North Carolina story, and that we are interested in connecting with people rather than dividing people, then people start to listen a lot more."

Lanier says other goals are promoting tourism to African-Americans and building a website with a database of black history and heritage.