In this oral history interview, Charles E. Davis discusses his time as a student at East Carolina, particularly his involvement in civil rights activism on campus, as well as his civil rights activism in the larger eastern North Carolina community.
Charles E. Davis was born in 1946 in Wilson, North Carolina. Davis enrolled at East Carolina College in the fall of 1965, where he eventually became a campus leader amongst the African American student body. During his time on campus, Davis served as chairman of the Negro Students Grievance Committee and was the first president of the Society of United Liberal Students (SOULS). Davis left East Carolina during the summer of 1968. He later enrolled at North Carolina Central University and graduated from the institution graduating in 1973.
In this oral history interview, Charles E. Davis discusses his time as a student at East Carolina, particularly his involvement in civil rights activism as president of the student organization SOULS, his relationship with Leo Jenkins, and the confrontation at dedication of Minges Coliseum over "Dixie" and Confederate flags at sports events. Davis also mentions racism on campus and an interaction with the Klu Klux Klan in Falkland, NC. He also discusses his involvement in civil rights activism in the larger community during high school. Runtime 1 hour 19 minutes.
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This collection is a part of Record Group 95: Oral History Collection.