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Dr. C.G. Newsome, the former president of the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center in Cincinnati, OH, and an Ahoskie native, will present “The Journey to Freedom” on Aug. 17, at the Turnage Theatre. Newsome said the topic of freedom is a complex one, but the most fundamental aspect of it is spiritual in nature. “The one fascinating thing that I have learned about freedom seekers over the years is that escaping was about much more than just geography,” said Newsome. “They were pursuing a state of grace in life. One that encouraged the enslaved to put their lives on the line to find a way to make a better life for themselves, their family, and their loved ones. It is that same impulse that drives human beings all over the world.”

Joining Newsome will be the director of the Washington Underground Railroad Museum, Leesa Jones, vocalist Charles Smith, guitarist Steve Creech, and, on piano, Barbara Valentine. “As suggested by Leesa, we will be playing a select number of Black spiritual gospels throughout their presentations, as well as during the reception following,” said Smith, who was once offered a job singing with the Metropolitan Opera, is a native of Washington, and a former pastor a the United Methodist Church. “They will include Swing Low Sweet Chariot, Michael, Row the Boat Ashore, and Go Down Moses Let My People Go. The audience will also be asked to participate. It should make for a wonderful weekend.”

Newsome said he hopes events such as this will shed more light as to how much we all have in common. “We need to get people to understand how to relate to other people and better understand there is a sense of equity in which we all live,” said Newsome. “And hopefully they will become more committed to living in a way that promotes more equity, justice, fair play, harmony, and peace.”

Newsome was one of the first African Americans to receive an athletic scholarship to Duke, where he went on to excel both athletically and academically. Upon graduation in just three and a half years, he shared the podium with Walter Cronkite as the first African American student commencement speaker in Duke history. Due to injuries that cut his athletic career short, he continued his education at Duke’s Divinity School where he graduated magna cum laude, with a Ph.D. Newsome became the first African American student to be awarded a James B. Duke Fellowship and began an eight-year tenure as a member of The Divinity School faculty. He would go on to serve as dean at Howard University, the president of Shaw University, and was named president of the Freedom Center in 2013. There he was joined by President Bill Clinton, Lech Walesa, Ted Turner, Maya Angelou, and Loretta Lynch in developing the center’s programming. Currently, he serves as a Trustee of the Duke Endowment and sits on its division of Rural Church Affairs. 

“The Journey to Freedom” will be held on Saturday, Aug. 17, from 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm at the Turnage Theatre. It is made possible through a collaborative effort between the Beaufort County Arts Council, the Washington Waterfront Underground Railroad Museum, and Building Integrated Communities. The event is free and open to the public.