We are pleased to share highlights from Honoring Juneteenth in Our Courts, a celebration of freedom, history, and the community we are so proud to call our own.
The event carried forward the legacy of our namesake, George H. White, whose courage and commitment to justice continue to guide the work we do today. Honoring our history while building toward a more just future was exactly the spirit he embodied, and that spirit was alive in every part of the program.
The celebration was made possible through our organization’s partnership with the NC Association of Public Defenders NCCU The Justice Institute, and the Alpha Zeta Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. whose collaboration helped bring this vision to life. The program was organized by the Honoring Juneteenth Planning Committee:
– Chief Public Defender Dawn Baxton
– Abigail Holloway, Esq.
– Sarah Olsen, Esq.
– Chad Perry, Esq.
– Carla Huff, Esq.
– Becky Whitaker, Esq.
– Yolanda Fair, Esq.
100 Men in Black, Empower Movement Dance Studio, and Triangle Performance Ensemble brought heart and soul to the program. Triangle Performance Ensemble presented a beautifully curated play honoring the legacies of trailblazing attorneys: George H. White, Pauli Murray, Clarence C. “Buddy” Malone, Karen Bethea-Shields, William A. “Billy” Marsh, Jr., Floyd McKissick, Sr., Julius Chambers and Henry “Mickey” Michaux, Jr. Their stories, brought to life on stage, served as a powerful reminder of the giants whose shoulders we stand on.
A panel discussion was moderated by Judge Dorothy Hairston Mitchell, President of the George H. White Bar Association, and featured distinguished panelists, Irving Joyner, Karen Bethea-Shields, Floyd McKissick, Jr., Ralph Frasier and Henry “Mickey” Michaux, Jr., who generously shared their wisdom, experience, and insight with attendees.
Members, volunteers, donors and friends came together to make this an unforgettable day, one that reflects why this community, and this work, matter so deeply.
