The Pauli Murray Project and Savas Labs have partnered on redesigning the Durham Civil & Human Rights Map, an online resource about Durham’s civil rights history. The public is invited to a celebration of the project from 10 a.m. to noon at the Pauli Murray True Community Mural, 313 Foster St.
The site, www.durhamcivilrightsmap.org focuses on Durham’s community’s history of activism and struggle for social justice and equality. From anti-KKK rallies to lunch counter sit-ins, draft resisters during the Vietnam War era to the desegregation of the Durham Athletic Park, the map explores historic liberation struggles based on race, gender, sexual orientation and more.
Each map point is based on research by Duke or UNC-CH students enrolled in a documentary studies course taught by Barbara Lau. The map was originated in 2009 and grows each year as students write and narrate new markers. “The site embodies the mission of the Pauli Murray Project,” said director Barbara Lau, “to connect history to contemporary activism, and we are pleased that it will also be accessible through our website.”
The map is intended as a community resource for teachers, students, residents and anyone interested in social justice history. Lau said project leaders will continue to work with educators and community members to develop additional projects based on the map and map research.
The Pauli Murray Project is part of the Duke Human Rights Center at the Franklin Humanities Institute. The project is a community-based initiative working on social and justice issues in Durham and honoring the legacy of Pauli Murray, who grew up in Durham and was a noted champion for civil and human rights. The project is renovating her childhood home in Durham as a center for dialogue, education, the arts and mobilization for equality and justice.
The Savas Labs team rebuilt the site as a pro bono contribution to Durham and to the Pauli Murray Project.