Princeville, NC est. Feb 20, 1885 profile picture

Princeville, NC est. Feb 20, 1885

THIS SIDE ......................... OF THE RIVER

About Me

Princeville, North Carolina is the oldest incorporated Black town in the United States. It is located in the Coastal Plain region of eastern North Carolina and lies just south of the Tar River from the county seat of Tarboro in Edgecombe County. Settled just after the Civil War in 1865, Princeville was originally called "Freedom Hill" by the freed slaves who had gathered on this Tar River flood plain seeking refuge at a Union Army camp that was located there.Throughout its history, Princeville has endured racial intimidation, economic and social isolation, and repeated flooding (e.g. 1800, 1865, 1889, 1919, 1924, 1940, and 1958), but it has steadfastly persisted as a cohesive, "all-Black" community. After the building of a levee in 1965 to prevent major flooding, the town saw many modern improvements, the expanding of its borders, a growth in population and an increase in the number of businesses. In 1999 a 500-year flood caused by Hurricanes Dennis and Floyd broke the levee and wiped out the town, bringing national attention to the historical and social significance of Princeville as a symbol of African American perseverance and self determination.Today this 98% African American town of approximately 2,100 people is rapidly rebuilding from the devastation of the flood of 1999 and is very proud of its unique place within African American heritage and United States history. This unique sense of place and solidarity among Princeville's town members, along with the destruction of physical historical documents from the flooding of its past, make it an ideal community in which to begin the preservation of oral history.Free MySpace Layouts by Iron Spider

My Interests

Click Here To View EventVideo on Allied Media Conference

I'd like to meet:

People willing to visit and celebrate Princeville's history, as well as those who can support Princeville with volunteer time, funding, or other resources.

Music:

GO TO myspace.com/princevillencmusic TO HEAR THE MUSIC IN *THIS SIDE OF THE RIVER*

Movies:

THIS SIDE OF THE RIVER: SELF-DETERMINATION AND SURVIVAL IN THE OLDEST BLACK TOWN IN AMERICA is the most recent production released by NCLLP in a series of acclaimed documentaries on the rich culture and heritage of North Carolina communities.The film incorporates interviews with Princeville residents and North Carolina historians to tell the story of Princeville , N.C. Settled by freed slaves in 1865, Princeville was the first town in the United States incorporated by African Americans, in 1885. The story of Princeville’s survival through racial prejudice, economic hardship and near-permanent destruction by the flood from Hurricane Floyd in 1999, is an important and previously untold piece of American history. This is a story of African people proudly transforming the discarded land of their captors into a safe haven for resistance and self-expression. Within an ever-changing southern Black identity, the people of Princeville demonstrated communal support through religious, political and economic self-determination.The film was co-produced and co-directed by Ryan Rowe and Drew Grimes.

Television:

PURCHASING INFORMATION:100% OF YOUR PURCHASE GOES TO THE TOWN OF PRINCEVILLE AND THEIR EFFORTS TO BUILD AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY MUSEUM.PHONE ORDERS CALL: 252-823-1057 (this is the Town Hall. make sure to explain that you are calling to order a DVD copy of This Side Of The River)Mail DVD requests or direct donations to:THIS SIDE OF THE RIVER video sales c/o Princeville Town Hall P.O. Box 1527 Princeville, NC 27886Please remember to specify how many copies you'd like and provide a return address for shipping and a phone number in case there are questions about your order.On behalf of Princeville: THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!!

Books:

MOVIE SHOWINGS OF This Side of the River:
9.29.06 -8:00pm- TARBORO, NC McIntyre Auditorium, Edgecombe Community College
Free admission. Q&A with directors after. Copies of film for sale. More info: Karen Andrus, 823-5166, ext. 212.

Heroes:

One of the Freedom Hill settlers, Turner Prince. Prince was born a slave in 1843 and was instrumental in the early settlement of the town. He would eventually have the town named after him. Like many others, Prince used the skilled trade he had used in slavery, carpentry, to make a home for his family and to help build a free community for other former slaves. To this day, Princeville emanates his spirit of self-sufficiency and deep reverence for land ownership and independence.

Recent News Story from WITN on Princeville's current stage of recovery: economic development, the Princeville Museum and the importance of Princeville youth to the town's future.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8O6-7lJr3Y

My Blog

**THE FULL EFFECT: THIS SATURDAY!! Come have fun and support the future leaders of Princeville

Support North Carolina Youth Media Makers Making Their Voices Heard!!!!!!!!!!THE FULL EFFECT: a benefit for the NC Youth Media Makers delegation to the Allied Media Conference http://alliedmediaconfer...
Posted by Princeville, NC est. Feb 20, 1885 on Tue, 27 May 2008 07:50:00 PST

A WAY FOR YOU TO HELP IN PRINCEVILLE RIGHT NOW

We are respectfully writing to ask your support for an exciting youth media coalition that has formed in North Carolina. SpiritHouse Inc. and Youth Noise Network and The Princeville Outreach Project a...
Posted by Princeville, NC est. Feb 20, 1885 on Mon, 21 Apr 2008 05:30:00 PST

**UPCOMING FILM SCREENINGS AND EVENTS**

UPCOMING EVENTSmore info at thissideoftheriver.org INFORMATION SESSION AND PERFORMANCE BY PRINCEVILLE ARTISTS as a part of the AFRICAN AMERICAN CELEBRATION DAY RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINAAfrican American ...
Posted by Princeville, NC est. Feb 20, 1885 on Thu, 31 Jan 2008 07:35:00 PST

Princeville Festival A Great Success!!!!

Much Love and thanks to all who supported. Here's an article on the Heritage Festival from the N&O for those who missed it. http://www.newsobserver.com/print/sunday/city_state/story/71 3372.ht...
Posted by Princeville, NC est. Feb 20, 1885 on Tue, 25 Sep 2007 05:16:00 PST

Article on Princeville Mural Unveiling at the Annual Heritage Festival

--> --> ..> http://www.rockymounttelegram.com/local/content/news/stories /2007/09/0904princeville.html   Princeville to unveil mural this monthBy Justin BoulmayRocky Mount Telegram Tuesday, S...
Posted by Princeville, NC est. Feb 20, 1885 on Tue, 18 Sep 2007 05:36:00 PST

Flier and Schedule of Events for the ANNUAL PRINCEVILLE HERITAGE FESTIVAL

Spread the word, y'all! This thing grows every year and is a great way to get to know Princeville. The Princeville Heritage Festival& Saturday, September 22, 2007, Noon - 5:00p.mRiverside Park, Princ...
Posted by Princeville, NC est. Feb 20, 1885 on Fri, 14 Sep 2007 05:21:00 PST

*** REVIEW FROM THE INDEPENDENT WEEKLY

THE INDEPENDENT WEEKLY..>..>MARCH 29, 2006Our towns:Princeville before and after the flood, and Nuestro Barrio wraps its first seasonBY DAVID FELLERATH..>..>..>..>..>Princeville, the first town in Ame...
Posted by Princeville, NC est. Feb 20, 1885 on Fri, 08 Sep 2006 08:29:00 PST

SO YOU THINK YOU'RE A PRINCEVILLE SCHOLAR? (historical, academic & news articles on P'ville)

RECLAIMING SACRED GROUND by Victor Blue (NC Crossroads)http://www.nchumanities.org/publications/crossroa ds/xrd1000.pdfThis is by far one of the best articles written on Princeville, in terms of a summ...
Posted by Princeville, NC est. Feb 20, 1885 on Sun, 24 Sep 2006 07:52:00 PST

NEW INTERVIEW WITH PRINCEVILLE MAYOR DELIA PERKINS IN N&O by David Cecelski

Renowned North Carolina historian David Cecelski profiles Princeville Mayor Delia Perkins in the Sunday (April 8th) edition of the News & Observer. Mayor Perkins speaks in detail about her experie...
Posted by Princeville, NC est. Feb 20, 1885 on Tue, 10 Apr 2007 09:33:00 PST

Film Project Update: !CHECK OUT WEFUNK INTERVIEW...Silver Rights/This Side Screening a success!

OK, we've been busy in a good way here at the Princeville Film Project doing screenings of "This Side..." (see recent blog with links and info) and bringing more and more people aboard to support P...
Posted by Princeville, NC est. Feb 20, 1885 on Sat, 31 Mar 2007 12:49:00 PST