Members of Congress, Local Politicians and Citizens Celebrate Rebirth of Americas Oldest Town Settled By Slaves

(Princeville, NC) Like the mythical bird that flies into the flames and emerges more magnificent than before, Princeville, the North Carolina town settled by slaves in 1885, and washed from the face of the earth in the great floods of 1999 recently celebrated its rebirth. The resurrection of this historic town was marked by an event billed as a “National Day of Hope and Renewal.”

Convenors of the celebration included Rep. Eva Clayton (D-NC), whose District includes Princeville; Rep. Bob Etheridge (D-NC); Rep. Mel Watt (D-NC); Rep. David Price (D-NC); and Senator John Edwards (D-NC). In a show of solidarity, Rep. James Clyburn (D-SC) and Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) joined the North Carolina delegation. State and local politicians, business leaders, members of faith-based organizations, nonprofit community groups and hundreds of local citizens were on hand for the celebration.

Sponsored by the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF), and the Faith and Politics Institute, this return to Princeville brought together once more all of those groups and individuals who participated in the clean up and rebirth of the region. They returned to this historic location to view the progress and promise that rose from the destruction. “The stories of how our communities coped with adversity, marshaled their inner strength, and mobilized public and private partners to rise up from loss and devastation, may be held up as a model,” said Congresswoman Eva M. Clayton (D-NC) who represents the First District of which Princeville is a part.

Activities for this special event kicked off on Friday afternoon with a symposium at Edgecombe Community College in Rocky Mount. The gathering, dubbed “Smart And Economic Growth” addressed the issue of contemporary land development in rural communities, and featured a slate of bankers, government officials, and economic development specialists. Rep. Clayton greeted the group with words of encouragement and led the audience in a stimulating discussion of how to rebuild with a focus on the future. “The lessons we learned should be a source of inspiration and hope to our friends in Texas, a state recently ravaged buy floods,” said Congresswoman Clayton. The day ended with an appreciation reception during which all individuals from local, state, and federal agencies were presented with awards that recognized their outstanding contributions to the recovery effort.

Saturday saw two loaded Greyhound buses leave Washington, D.C. in the predawn hours filled with more than 100 Congressional staffers, federal workers, private citizens, and others who helped in the initial clean-up efforts. Meanwhile, in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, Members of Congress were convening an early-morning Breakfast Roundtable that explored ways to leverage financing for housing and economic development in the affected areas. The Congressional Roundtable featured special guests Senator John Edwards (D-NC), Rep. Mel Watt (D-NC), Rep. Bob Etheridge (D-NC), and Rep. David Price (D-NC).

About mid morning the buses from Washington, D.C. arrived at their designated sites in Rocky Mount and Greenville, and took their passengers on a guided tour of the neighborhoods that had made a remarkable recovery from the waste brought on by the hurricanes. The Greenville route featured tours of Meadowbrook Subdivision an area that was wiped out and rebuilt after the floods, the refurbished Pitt Greenville Airport, and other affected communities. In Rocky Mount, citizens toured residential and commercial sites, including public housing projects, and private subdivisions that were all recently restored.

Both buses converged on Princeville’s Powell Park in time for a press conference featuring Members of Congress, local citizens who played key roles in the clean-up; state and national politicians, and representatives from faith-based organizations. The two-day activity was billed as an event that showcased the can-do spirit and resilience of the people of Eastern North Carolina. Other Partners in the undertaking included Fannie Mae, Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta, Greyhound Lines, Inc., and the U.S. Pork Association.
Rep. Clayton expressed a special thanks to the members of the North Carolina Housing Partnership Initiative for their unparalleled support in this crisis and in many other instances in the past.

The CBCF serves as a nonpartisan, policy-oriented catalyst to educate future leaders and promote collaboration among community and business leaders, minority-focused organizational leaders, and organized labor to effect positive and substantive change in the African American community.