The Hands That Built Davidson College 🧱

Davidson College has a beautiful campus — but like many Southern institutions, its history is complex. In this episode of History Before Us, I visit Davidson College (Davidson, North Carolina) to explore its layered past and the powerful memorial, “With These Hands: A Memorial to the Enslaved and Exploited.” Joined by Dr. Hilary Green and Martha “Marty” Gimson, we walk the campus grounds and discuss the lives of the enslaved people and Black workers who built, maintained, and sustained the college across generations. We also reflect on what it means for universities to publicly acknowledge difficult truths — and how memorials like this challenge us to remember, honor, and tell the full story. If you care about Black history, North Carolina history, campus history, enslavement at colleges, and how public memory is shaped through monuments and memorials, this episode is for you. ✅ Like, subscribe, and share to help amplify more unheralded history and descendant-centered storytelling. 💬 Comment below: What other campuses or historic sites should we explore next? Featured in this episode: Dr. Hilary Green Martha “Marty” Gimson 📍 Location: Davidson College — Davidson, NC 🎥 Series: History Before Us #DavidsonCollege #NorthCarolinaHistory #BlackHistory #SlaveryHistory #CampusHistory #PublicHistory #HistoricMemorials #HistoryBeforeUs #blackhistorymonth Artist link:https://hankwillisthomas.com/about Dedication link : https://www.davidson.edu/news/2025/10...