To Drink from the Well: The Struggle for Racial Equality at the Nation's Oldest Public University

The University of North Carolina has a long history of systemic racism in leadership, scholarship, and organizational foundations. Geeta N. Kapur's book, "To Drink from the Well: The Struggle for Racial Equality at the Nation's Oldest Public University," explores this history by exposing the plain and uncomfortable truth behind the storied brick walkways, "historic" statuary, and picturesque covered well. Kapur chronicles the racism within the university and traces its insidious effects on students, faculty, and even the venerable Tarheel sports programs. She also explores the parallel movement in nearby Durham, where a growing Black middle class helped to create North Carolina Central University.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 385 pages
Publication date: 07 October 2021
Publisher: John F Blair Publisher

The University of North Carolina, the oldest public university in the United States, has a troubled history of systemic racism in leadership, scholarship, and organizational foundations. The university's founding in 1793 marked the beginning of a long struggle for racial equality, with Black students only being admitted in Chapel Hill in 1875 and the Confederate "Silent Sam" monument being forcibly removed in 2018.

Law professor and civil rights activist Geeta N. Kapur delves into the history of UNC, exposing the plain and uncomfortable truth behind the storied brick walkways, "historic" statuary, and picturesque covered well, the icon of the campus. Kapur's book, "To Drink from the Well: The Struggle for Racial Equality at the Nation's Oldest Public University," chronicles the racism within the university and traces its insidious effects on students, faculty, and even the venerable Tarheel sports programs.

Kapur approaches her story not as a historian but as a citizen speaking to her fellow citizens. She relies on the historical record to tell her story, but where that record is lacking, she elaborates on it, augmenting and deconstructing the standard chronology. Kapur explores both the Chapel Hill campus and a parallel movement in nearby Durham, where a growing Black middle class helped to create North Carolina Central University.

The book also highlights the contributions of Black faculty and students to the university's history and culture. Kapur's analysis is nuanced and comprehensive, providing a deep understanding of the complex issues surrounding systemic racism in higher education. "To Drink from the Well" is a valuable contribution to the ongoing conversation about race and equality in America, and it serves as a reminder of the ongoing struggle for racial justice at UNC and beyond.

Weight: 636g
Dimension: 227 x 154 x 31 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781949467529