Chatham County honors legacy of poet George Moses Horton

The Chatham County Board of Commissioners has officially designated June 28, 2024, as George Moses Horton Day, marking the 46th anniversary of this celebration. The resolution honors Horton, an enslaved African American poet born in 1797, who became the first African American man to publish a book in the United States with his 1829 collection, \"The Hope of Liberty.\" His works significantly contributed to the national abolition movement and have influenced generations of scholars and students, particularly at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Horton, who spent the majority of his life in servitude, began composing poetry as a child and later sold love poems to students while working at the university. Despite his efforts to buy his freedom, he lived only the last 17 years of his 85-year life as a free man. His legacy includes being named the historic poet laureate of Chatham County and being inducted into the North Carolina Literary Hall of Fame.

The resolution highlights various recognitions of Horton, including the renaming of Horton Middle School in Pittsboro in 2021 and ongoing community celebrations of his contributions to literature and human rights. The Board encourages residents to engage with Horton’s works and reflect on his enduring message of dignity, equality, and the importance of education and artistic expression.