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Oral History Interview with Edwin Caldwell, March 2, 2001. Interview K-0202. Southern Oral History Program Collection (#4007).
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  • Abstract
    Edwin Caldwell Jr. describes a lifetime of civil rights activism and political involvement. A natural political organizer, Caldwell helped Howard Lee become the first black mayor of Chapel Hill. Despite losing a number of his own campaigns for office, Caldwell enjoyed a growing reputation as a political force in North Carolina. This reputation earned him a seat on the Chapel Hill-Carrboro School Board and various others positions of influence. Caldwell discusses the mechanics behind some of these positions and the influence of his race on his political life.
    Excerpts
  • Decision to register voters
  • Intersection of party politics and civil rights advocacy
  • Organizing on behalf of Howard Lee
  • Organization helps Howard Lee win mayoralty
  • Some political setbacks for Caldwell
  • Caldwell learns leadership on school board
  • Trying to expand Presbyterian church's appeal to African Americans
  • Caldwell doesn't let race make decisions for him
  • Learn More
  • Finding aid to the Southern Oral History Program Collection
  • Database of all Southern Oral History Program Collection interviews
  • Subjects
  • African Americans--North Carolina--Chapel Hill
  • Chapel Hill (N.C.)--Politics and government
  • Chapel Hill (N.C.)--Race relations--20th century
  • Caldwell, Edwin, Jr.
  • Lee, Howard
  • Church of Reconciliation (Chapel Hill, N.C.)
  • Chapel Hill-Carrboro Board of Education
  • The Southern Oral History Program transcripts presented here on Documenting the American South undergo an editorial process to remove transcription errors. Texts may differ from the original transcripts held by the Southern Historical Collection.

    Funding from the Institute for Museum and Library Services supported the electronic publication of this title.