Unearthing North Carolina's Black Medical Legacy | Wilmington News

A groundbreaking project is uncovering North Carolina’s forgotten Black medical legacy, spotlighting resilient communities like Gastonia that built their own hospitals and healthcare districts—like “The Block”—when denied access to mainstream care. Born from Black History Month, it’s now a daily archive honoring unsung heroes such as Dr. Herbert Erwin, who opened Gastonia’s first Black hospital in 1920, and midwives like “Aunt Charlotte” McClee, who served all families despite enslavement. With few surviving records or artifacts, historians rely on oral histories and rare relics like Dr. Erwin’s medical bag to preserve these vital stories. The mission? To safeguard and share these narratives, ensuring the legacy of compassionate caregivers—often overlooked—continues to inspire future generations. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/ff678cdbb2f896a4