The Making of a Movement: The Fight for Educational, Political, and Employment Opportunities in Washington County, NC, 1941-198

The purpose of this thesis is to examine the Civil Rights Movement of Washington County, North Carolina through the lens of educational, political, and employment opportunities from 1941 to 1981. Nestled near the Roanoke River, in eastern North Carolina, Washington County is small in population, yet filled with history. Known well for its Civil War efforts, the rural country has played a major role in other historical developments that have received little notice. This study will look at three specific issues. First, it will look at the fight for black education in Washington County. Next, it will discuss the black struggle for voter registration and the near massacre that occurred in August 1965. Finally, this thesis will discuss discrimination at the Weyerhaeuser Paper Mill, leading up to the lawsuit Garrett v. Weyerhaeuser in 1977. This study sheds light on the long black freedom struggle in rural Washington County and illuminates the stories of African Americans who fought for racial equality.