What the Project is about

The project is focused on the 1971 Griggs v. Duke Power Co. United States Supreme Court Case, in which 13 African-American men from Rockingham County put everything on the line to fight for equality in the workplace. The court's ruling in their favor changed the progress of the Civil Rights movement forever.

How the Project started

As a member of the Museum and Archives of Rockingham County’s Programs Committee, Valencia Abbot has researched potential program topics to focus on African-American and ‘hidden histories’ representing Rockingham County’s past.  Valencia came across this monumental piece of local and national history in her search.  As a history teacher at Rockingham County Early High School, she was aware this case held a monumental impact on the Civil Rights Movement, although it is not a part of school curriculum or even widely known.  The realization of its national importance and the fact that it happened right on her doorstep led Valencia to say, “I was shocked and felt a little guilty that [previously] I, and many others in the county, weren’t aware of this history or its significance.”

 Soon, Valencia, the MARC and several of Valencia's college students began working on the project providing diligent research, genealogies, reaching out to the plaintiff's families and preparing for development of the 50th anniversary recognition of the case in 2021. MARC was fortunate to secure a generous programming grant from the Reidsville Area Foundation, even amidst the challenges of the pandemic, to help bring many of the programming plans to fruition. See the team that helped get the project Heavy are the Scales: Griggs v. Duke Power Co. off the ground below: 

(Above left to right: Valencia Abbott, Kierston Clarke Bankston, Matthew Titchiner & Fatima Muhammad)

The Project Exhibit Space - Due March 8, 2021

As a result of the research team's work, the MARC will be honoring the 13 men and their families by adding a new permanent exhibition, Heavy are the Scales, set to open March 8, 2021 and with a series of programs later in the year focusing on marginalized histories.

You can see below the MARC's Civil Rights room where the exhibit is planned to be installed. In conjunction with this work, the current textiles and sculpture exhibits will be relocated to a more appropriate location in the galleries. The new Civil Rights exhibit will cover the 1971 Griggs v. Duke Power Co. Supreme Court Case, highlight its relevance to modern day movements and help to fill an educational gap in the way Civil Rights features in curriculums, which all too often neatly caps the subject upon the death of Dr. Martin Luther King in 1968. 

(Above: the current MARC exhibit space earmarked for the new permanent Heavy are the Scales exhibition, once the textiles, piano and art sculptures are relocated)

(Above: Time lapse of the MARC Team carefully dismantling the large loom in preparation of the new exhibition)

(Above: Steve McCollum assisting the MARC Team, putting up funky 1970s wallpaper)

As the exhibition and project progresses, this web page and the MARC Facebook page will continue to be updated with the latest information.

The MARC Needs Your Help - Oral Histories

MARC is looking to record and preserve the stories of the friends and families of the 13 men and those involved with the case. MARC wants to go beyond the court transcripts and delve into the individuals involved - what they were like, how the case impacted them and those closest to them. These will form part of the new permanent exhibition, to help educate adults and young  visitors for years to come.

Please get in touch with the MARC via: griggs@themarconline.org, Facebook message or 336-634-4949. 

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At a time when historians and cultural institutions across the world are taking a step back, starting to look at familiar histories through fresh eyes, representing the full context of the historical narratives to improve their educational value, and most importantly listening to those marginalized voices to do justice to those complex narratives - MARC could think of no better time than now, to reaffirm its core mission to continue sensitively, accurately and holistically presenting Rockingham County history. We strive to create cultural and thought-provoking narratives and experiences in a neutral, respectful setting, to help preserve, disseminate and educate all for generations to come.

A Virtual Opening Event

Although, when the project started, we could never have imagined a global pandemic and the disruptions it would bring, we pushed on so our March 8th event could go ahead, albeit virtually. For this momentous 50th anniversary of the Griggs case our special webinar explored the impact of the case, delved into the research and unveiled the new exhibit. The MARC Team were joined by our headline speaker, attorney, writer and Professor of Law, Cynthia Elaine Tompkins. 

A Virtual Tour

Event Recording

Click the image below to view the virtual exhibit tour video on our YouTube channel:

Click the image below to view the full event zoom recording on our YouTube channel: