Echoes from the Sandhills

## Unearthing the Voices of Black Newspapers in the Sandhills

Series 1: In Print and In Power — Black Newspapers of the Sandhills

Echo 1 – Inaugural Edition

Step into the roots of the Sandhills region as we bring forgotten stories back to life. Echoes from the Sandhills is a storytelling series that shines a light on the African American experience in our communities — through newspapers, oral histories, land, labor, faith, and legacy.

Welcome to the very first Echoes from the Sandhills. This new series is part of our commitment to Preserving History and Heritage — the “H” in HOPE. Each Echo invites us to pause, look back, and listen closely to the stories that continue to shape who we are today.

At the heart of this effort is Sankofa — an Akan word from Ghana meaning “go back and fetch it.” The Sankofa bird, reaching back for an egg on its back, teaches us that we must return to the past to carry forward what is valuable for the future. You may recognize this symbol: it is part of the Sandhills Family Heritage Association’s logo, reminding us that our mission is rooted in remembering and reclaiming the wisdom of those who came before us.

With these Echoes, we hope to spark memories of family stories once told on front porches, experiences passed down at reunions, or even old photographs tucked away in a drawer. Each of these treasures holds a piece of our shared legacy. By revisiting them, we not only preserve history but also keep alive the voices and values of our ancestors.

This inaugural Echo is just the beginning. In our next installment, we’ll step into the world of the early Black press in Fayetteville, Raleigh, Wilmington, and beyond — exploring how newspapers amplified local voices and carried the stories of the Sandhills to a wider audience.

Echoes from the Sandhills will be shared every other Thursday. We invite you to journey with us — listening, remembering, and carrying these Echoes forward.