Quick Bites - Rep. James Roberson Reflects on the Roots That Led to the NC State House

Representative James Roberson — a Democratic member of the North Carolina House serving District 39 in Wake County and former Mayor of Knightdale — traces his story back to Wilson, North Carolina, a tobacco town once nicknamed “Little DC” for its deep political ties. He shares how his name came from the doctor who delivered him, a choice his mother made with pride, and recalls growing up in a household where civic engagement was a way of life. From crisp October mornings spent helping register voters to long nights watching election returns on television, those early experiences shaped his sense of purpose. His journey shows how place, family, and early lessons in service guided him from the streets of Wilson to a life in public leadership.Explore more voices, support the work, or share your own story at griotandgrits.org.License: This content is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution–NonCommercial–NoDerivatives 4.0 (CC BY‑NC‑ND 4.0). Permissions: If you would like to request permission for uses not allowed under this license (including commercial use, edits, remixes, or redistribution), please contact Griot and Grits at [email protected] episode includes AI-generated content.