The Ongoing Fight for Freedom: Stories of NC's Black Veterans

“The Ongoing Fight for Freedom: Stories of NC Black Veterans” is a one-man presentation & performance elevating Black freedom fighters and veterans with North Carolina connections – known & unknown, on and off the traditional battlefield – who have engaged in over 400 years of a struggle for freedom, liberty, and equality. Their sacrifices, resistance, and resilience have contributed to American democracy, even as they were denied the full rights of citizens.

Through listening to their stories in this production, we can gain a deeper understanding of our nation’s founding ideals, and harness the hope to continue the work, together, of making those ideals a reality for all.

The show was written and is performed by Dr. Sonny Kelly, founder of Legacy Heirs Productions. The play’s development was commissioned & funded by the NC Department of Natural & Cultural Resources’ America 250 initiative & produced by Carolina K-12 at Carolina Public Humanities, UNC-Chapel Hill.

See https://www.ncssm.edu/about/visit#durham for driving directions and parking information.

“African American soldiers answered the call to fight in every American war and conflict, from the Revolutionary War, in which they served in integrated units, to the war in Iraq and beyond. Yet they often served without the benefits of recognition, even citizenship. And despite of unfair treatment, discrimination, and even violence by their own comrades in arms. Some were denied honors they were earned. Many were underpaid or not paid at all…We owe it to them to learn from their stories, to remember their names.” Stories of War

Dr. Sonny Kelly is a scholar, performer, story teller, motivator, speaker, teacher, trainer and founder of Legacy Heirs Productions, Inc. Dr. Kelly earned his PhD in Communication at UNC Chapel Hill. He is also a graduate of Stanford University and St. Mary’s University, San Antonio, TX. Currently, his research is focused on seeking performance centered practices to name and address the issues that divide Americans. Dr. Kelly has served as a U.S. Air Force officer, a non-profit organization director, university admissions counselor, pharmaceutical salesman, award winning college communications instructor, and a church youth pastor. He teaches courses in Public Speaking and Intercultural/ Interpersonal Communication at Fayetteville Technical Community College. Dr. Kelly has also acted professionally on stage and television for over 30 years. He is currently performing his original one-man shows and performative lectures: The Talk, The Ongoing Fight for Freedom, Indivisible, and HAUNTED - that grapple with the talks that Americans must begin to have with each other in order to thrive in a divided America and transcend toward a more unified nation. Dr. Kelly's work mobilizes theater, storytelling, performance-centered pedagogy, ethnography, and participatory action research toward hope, unity, accountability, equity, and inclusion. His passion for empowering others is unmistakable! Learn more at www.legacyheirsproductions.com.

The presentation is based on historical research, including actual events and people who have contributed to North Carolina throughout the last four centuries. Artistic liberties have been taken in how figures are presented. While some dialogue is taken directly from oral histories or interview sources, the majority of the dialogue and characterizations have been interpreted for dramatic intent.

This performance is made possible by the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics Humanities Department.

Host or Publisher The Humanities and Fine Arts Departments at NCSSM