Exhibit Opening Event: “Booker T. Spicely: Citizen, Soldier, Martyr, Hero”

The Museum of Durham History will be unveiling a new outdoor banner exhibit, Booker T. Spicely: Citizen, Soldier, Martyr, Hero, in partnership with the Booker T. Spicely Committee and with corporate support from Your Part-Time Controller (YPTC).

This exhibition tells the powerful story of Private First-Class Booker T. Spicely, a Black soldier stationed at Camp Butner during World War II. In July 1944, while visiting Durham, Spicely was ordered by a white bus driver to move to the back of the bus. Though he complied, Spicely spoke out, noting that he was fighting for democracy overseas. Moments later, the bus driver shot and killed him—an act that became one of many tragic incidents during the Jim Crow era in which African Americans lost their lives while demanding equal rights at home.

The exhibit places Spicely’s story within the broader context of similar injustices faced by Black Americans during World War II. Originally funded by the City of Durham’s Cultural & Public Art Program, the full exhibition was also on display earlier this summer at the Hayti Heritage Center. The Museum of Durham History is honored to extend its reach by installing the story on striking outdoor banners along the Museum’s sidewalk frames, allowing passersby in Downtown Durham and the Brightleaf District to view them at any time, day or night.

“History is full of complexities, and every story matters,” said Patrick Mucklow, Executive Director of the Museum of Durham History. “By shining a light on voices that have too often gone unheard, we hope to foster understanding and spark important conversations about our shared past.”

The opening event on Friday evening is FREE and open to the public. Guests will have the opportunity to view the exhibit, talk with members of the Booker T. Spicely Committee, and reflect on the enduring relevance of Spicely’s courage and sacrifice.