Honoring Black Heroes in Service and Sacrifice

This year’s African American Heritage Festival explores the theme Red, White, Blue, and Black, highlighting the often-overlooked stories of Black military service throughout American history. In honor of the 250th anniversary of the United States, we’ll examine how African American service members have shaped, and been shaped by, the nation they served.

Join us for a full day of thought-provoking panels, engaging speakers, powerful performances, vibrant art, and local vendors and organizations, all centered around the legacy of Black military contributions. From the Revolution to present day, we’ll reflect on themes of service, sacrifice, and the ongoing pursuit of freedom and equality. 

Some workshops require registration, scroll down to learn more about everything happening at the festival. 

All are welcome to attend and take part in this celebration of heritage, history, and honor.

Registration is encouraged but not required. Click the button above to to let us know you're coming (does not include workshop registration).

Our Keynote Speaker: Jocelyn Mitnaul Mallette

Jocelyn Mitnaul Mallette is the Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Military and Veterans Affairs and is a third-generation service member. As Secretary, Jocelyn leads the Department in its mission to support the military and veteran connected communities in North Carolina.

As the daughter of Goldsboro natives, Jocelyn received her nomination to the United States Air Force (USAF) Academy from North Carolina Congresswoman Eva Clayton. After graduating, Jocelyn served for ten years in the USAF. First, as an Admissions Officer at the Air Force Academy. Then, she secured a mission critical assignment as an intelligence officer, during which she briefed pilots in South Carolina and in Germany. Jocelyn cross-trained into the Judge Advocate General’s (JAG) Corps after graduating from the University of North Carolina School of Law.

Jocelyn served as a prosecutor and general practice attorney in the JAG Corps at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base. After ten years of active-duty military service, Jocelyn started her civilian career as an attorney by clerking for the Honorable Barbara A. Jackson of the North Carolina Supreme Court. Following her clerkship, Jocelyn spent six years at the international law firm of McGuireWoods, where she represented Fortune 500 companies in complex commercial litigation and became partner.

As an active member of her community, Jocelyn currently serves on the Advisory Board of the Southeast Raleigh YMCA. She also is an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, and the Junior League of Raleigh. She is married to Harold A. Mallette, who is a licensed architect, and she is the proud mother of two hilarious and lively children.

Join Jocelyn at 12:30 to hear about the work of the North Carolina Department of Military and Veterans Affairs and their African American Military & Veterans Lineage Project.

Schedule of Events

11:00 - North Carolina’s Black Militiamen, 1869-1886, Presentation by Dr. Gregory Mixon

11:00 - Siloam School Opens 

11:30 - Home, Hospitality, & Hope Panel Discussion, Ché Abdullah, Tom Hanchett, Fred Dodson, and Reuben "Rock" Flax

12:00 - 1774 Rock House Open House

12:15 - Seen, Served, Remembered: Photography and Visual Storytelling Workshop, Imani Black (pre-registration required)

12:30 - Keynote Address - Secretary Jocelyn Mitnaul Mallette, NC Dept. of Military and Veterans Affairs

1:30 - From Records to Remembrance: Black Military Service and Family History Panel, Solomon Titus (Descendant of American Revolution veteran, Ishmael Titus), Olde Mecklenburg Genealogical Society, Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society, and North Carolina Genealogical Society. Moderated by Dr. Gregory Mixon. 

1:45 - Answered the Call: African American Service, Sacrifice, and Triumph in the Vietnam War Era Workshop, Travis Barnes (pre-registration required)

3:15 - Book Talk: A Precarious Balance: Firearms, Race, and Community in North Carolina, 1715-1865, Dr. Antwain Hunter

3:30 - The Power of the Warrior’s Heart: Black Hands in Service Then and Now, Storytelling and Guided Watercolor Painting Workshop, Melvin D. Nix (pre-registration required) 

4:00 - 1774 Rock House Closes

5:00 - Siloam School Closes

All Day:

• Food trucks available
• Vendor and Community Tables
• "Marching Home" - Housing, Hostility & Hope Pop-up exhibit - in partnership with Johnson C Smith University - Duke Library. 
• Craft Zone
• Live Painting - Path of Portraits - Zechariah Alexander

Presentation: North Carolina’s Black Militiamen, 1869-1886

A presentation of an ongoing book project examining the actions and activities of African Americans who volunteered to serve as citizen-soldiers in the three separate iterations of the North Carolina state militia, 1869-1886. Black North Carolinians served in the North Carolina Detailed Militia, 1868-1870, First North Carolina Volunteer Regiment 1875-1877, and North Carolina State Guard, 1877-1898. The presentation chronicles the evolution of Black conceptions of being a citizen in North Carolina after the Civil War.

"Marching Home" - Home, Hospitality, & Hope Panel Discussion - presented by the “Lost Soldiers” Podcast, JCSU - Duke Library, Charlotte Post, & DreamKey Partners.

Presented by the Lost Soldiers Podcast, the panel explores the lived experiences of Black veterans returning home from war—examining barriers to housing, racial hostility, and the enduring hope that shaped communities in Charlotte and beyond. The discussion connects historical narratives to present-day conversations around housing equity, remembrance, and community restoration. Thank you to our supporters, Dream Key Partners, Charlotte Post Publishing, C Malik Art, LLC and Duke Memorial Library - Johnson C. Smith University.

Panelists joining the Lost Soldiers Podcast hosts, Ché Abdullah and Tom Hanchett, include Fred Dodson, co-founder and COO of DreamKey Partners, whose work focuses on housing access and neighborhood revitalization. Reuben “Rock” Flax, a Vietnam veteran, Historic West End and Beatties Ford Road community leader, and three-time Purple Heart recipient, guests from previous Lost Soldiers podcasts will also join the panel presentation.

Answered the Call: African American Service, Sacrifice, and Triumph in the Vietnam War Era Workshop

Answered the Call: African American Service, Sacrifice, and Triumph in the Vietnam War Era is a workshop that honors the courage, resilience, and legacy of African Americans who served during the Vietnam War. Through stories, history, and open conversation, participants will learn about the real experiences of Black service members who served their country while also facing racial injustice both at home and overseas. The workshop highlights voices often left out of mainstream history, showing both the challenges these service members faced and the victories they achieved. Attendees will better understand the Vietnam War era and appreciate the strength, unity, and perseverance that defined African American service. This experience is designed to educate, uplift, and inspire. Participants are invited to reflect on legacy, recognize sacrifice, and celebrate the lasting contributions of those who served with honor and determination.

The Power of the Warrior’s Heart: Black Hands in Service Then and Now, Storytelling and Guided Watercolor Painting Workshop

African American military service has always required more than physical strength—it has demanded restraint, dignity, and moral courage in the face of contradiction. This session combines storytelling and guided watercolor painting to explore the inner discipline required to serve a nation while navigating historical inequity. Participants will be led through a reflective talk on the “warrior’s heart”—a place where resolve, faith, and purpose are forged—followed by a hands-on watercolor experience. Using simple techniques and symbolism, attendees will create a personal visual reflection honoring Black hands in service, past and present. No prior art experience is required. This session offers space for remembrance, creativity, and healing through art.

Seen, Served, Remembered: Photography and Visual Storytelling Workshop

This workshop explores African American military history through the lens of photography and visual storytelling. Focusing on historical Black photographers and image makers, participants will examine how Black service members were documented, remembered, and represented from the early 20th century through the Civil Rights era. Through visual examples and guided discussion, the session reflects on themes of service, sacrifice, visibility, and belonging. Participants are invited to consider how photography shaped public perception, preserved cultural memory, and continues to influence how Black military contributions are understood today.