In 1970, James Cates, a 22-year-old Black Chapel Hill resident, was murdered after work by a white supremacist biker gang. Although dozens of witnesses were present, no one was ever convicted. More than fifty years later, the local community helped bring renewed attention to his story. The James Cates Scholars were a part of the journey.
Learning History. Changing History.
The James Cates Scholars investigated the life and legacy of James Cates using the Critical Oral History methodology developed through years of collaboration with veterans of SNCC. Their research, public presentations, and community engagement became part of a broader effort that contributed to the U.S. Department of Justice reopening the case after more than fifty years and to the creation of a permanent memorial honoring James Cates at UNC. In the process, students discovered that history is not simply something to remember—it is something they have the power to change.
