Redeeming the Promise of the Declaration of Independence: Louis Austin, the Black Press, and the 20th Century Freedom Struggle
Date: Wed, Sep 9, 2026
Time: 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
Venue: Main Library – Main Auditorium, Durham
Price: Free
Category: Community
In conjunction with The Declaration of Independence Display we invite you to join us for a special event! Redeeming the Promise of the Declaration of Independence: Louis Austin, the Black Press, and the 20th Century Freedom Struggle The preamble of the Declaration of Independence proclaims that "all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness." During the 20th century, Louis Austin, editor and publisher of The Carolina Times in Durham, used the power of the press, to make those words real, as he exposed and challenged racial injustice and racial segregation, on the page, in the streets, and in the courtroom. Join us at the Durham County Main Library on September 9, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. as Professor Jerry Gershenhorn explores Austin's powerful legacy, presented in conjunction with the special display of the Declaration of Independence, brought to the library in partnership with Duke University's We the People initiative. Together, we will examine how Austin's legacy of speaking "The Truth Unbridled," and challenging racial injustice transformed local activism into a masterclass in constitutional accountability, and why his battle for equality remains a model for building democracy today.
