On January 20, advocates from around the state came together for NC Black Alliance’s Environmental Injustice and Healthcare Summit: Grounded in Justice, Rooted in Wellness. Conversations at the summit resonated deeply within the historic walls of the Franklinton Center at Bricks, a former plantation in Whitakers, NC that was transformed into one of the first accredited schools for Black Americans in the South.
The gathering served as a powerful reminder of the importance of history, and of acknowledging the root causes of injustice still experienced today. North Carolina, and particularly Warren County, has a complex history with the struggle for racial justice.
We work to demystify the narratives surrounding issues like healthcare access, voting rights, dirty corporations, and clean jobs, all of which significantly impact the health and safety of Black and Brown communities.
Warren County is often called the “birthplace” of the Environmental Justice movement thanks to the landmark PCB Protests nearly 42 years ago. Yet within a mere 10 miles of the infamous PCB-laden landfill that sparked the movement lies another significant landmark: Soul City. Envisioned as a thriving, multi-racial community fostering Black entrepreneurship, Soul City embodied the dream of civil rights leader and developer Floyd McKissick Sr.
Floyd McKissick Jr., a North Carolina State Senator and the son of McKissick Sr., attended the Environmental Injustice and Healthcare Summit. McKissick Jr. explained that his father’s vision was to build a place, “where people of all races could live and work harmoniously together.”
Ambitious plans called for Soul City to grow and house 50,000 residents, boasting its own municipal, economic, and education systems. McKissick Sr.’s dedication attracted national attention and secured 3,600 acres for the community, including residential developments and the construction of a factory (SoulTech). Bonds secured through the Soul City project also funded the nearly completed development of a regional water system, a county-wide high school, and a medical care facility doubling Warren County’s patient capacity.
Unfortunately, history took a tragic turn. The project’s success soon caught the attention of US Senator Jesse Helms, who launched a racially-motivated investigation alleging fraud and misuse of funds—allegations that were never substantiated. The resulting audit that halted the project, coupled with the negative press around the investigation, dealt a heavy blow. Funding ceased, progress stalled, and the dream of Soul City ultimately fractured. Most of the land was divided and sold, and what had been SoulTech was absorbed into the correctional system, transforming into a prison-operated factory. Soul City’s eventual decline is evidence of the powerful force of racist ideologies.
Though unrealized, the dream of Soul City lives on in the hearts and minds of many who were involved in the project. Senator McKissick Jr. shared his enduring belief with summit attendees that the opportunity to create an intentional, diverse community remains.
Meanwhile, the juxtaposition of the pioneering Environmental Justice movement beginning just ten miles and less than a decade after Soul City’s demise cannot be ignored. McKissick Sr.’s Soul City Project catalyzed the national conversation around equitable resource distribution and sustainable communities, setting the stage for a broader understanding of environmental justice issues. We thank NC Black Alliance for this reminder, and for all their important work in pursuit of equitable access to energy-efficient housing, transportation, and clean energy infrastructure.
