WINSTON WEEKLY©^[1]

July 13, 2025

Vol. 3, No. 28

LESSONS FROM DURHAM[2]

In the aftermath of the December 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor, California Governor Culbert Olson and Fourth Army Commander Lieutenant General John DeWitt canceled Pasadena’s annual Rose Bowl parade and game over concerns of a Japanese attack on the west coast. Less than two weeks later, the Oregon State Beavers traveled more than 3,500 miles by train, arriving in Durham, North Carolina on Christmas Eve 1941.

On New Year’s Day 1942, the Rose Bowl took place before nearly 56,000 fans, almost all of whom were white. There were no black players or coaches, and only 140 black fans in attendance. Oregon State’s only Japanese American player was unable to play to due military restrictions and was later forced into an internment camp. Although the Blue Devils were undefeated, the Beavers prevailed, 20-16.

Ten months after the Rose Bowl in Durham, Black leaders met at the Southern Conference on Race Relations. The conference resulted in the adoption of the Durham Manifesto, calling for an end to segregation and other forms of race discrimination. In addressing the challenges, Director Gordon B. Hancock stated in part: “It is a wicked notion that the struggle of the Negro for citizenship is a struggle against the best interests of the Nation. To urge such a doctrine, as many are doing, is to preach disunity and to deny the most elementary principles of American life and government.”

Today, Durham has a significant Black population, and a growing Hispanic and Latino population. There are over 200 Black-owned businesses in Durham, ranging from restaurants to galleries to salons, and one of the largest African-American owned businesses in the county.

THIS WEEK’S ACTIVITY

Explore the rich history of Durham, from being named after Dr. Bartlett Durham who donated land in 1849 for a railroad station, and why it is known as Bull City. Duke’s Service-Learning program, Trinity College of Arts and Sciences, is a great resource.

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[1] A Sunday newsletter and blog by Alysen Bayles to be shared with the appropriate attribute.

[2] Resources: Tracie Canada, The Truth About the World War-II Rose Bowl That Became Part of American Sports Lore, Time, Jan. 1, 2025; Statement of Purpose by Director Gordon B. Hancock, www.crmvet.org; https://servicelearning.durham.duke.edu; Black-Owned Businesses in Downtown Durham, Feb. 1, 2025, www.downtowndurham.com.