Buncombe County Special Collections announced on Feb. 18 the opening of “Black Stories in Census Tract 2,” a multimedia exhibit at Pack Memorial Library, running from Jan. 20 through April 21, 2026.
The exhibit highlights the social, cultural, and historical impact of Asheville’s historic Black neighborhoods by focusing on the experiences of elders and descendants from Stumptown, Hill Street, and South Montford communities. Organizers say the project aims to honor families whose roots shaped these neighborhoods and to foster cross-generational dialogue about memory and place.
The exhibition is a collaboration between Garnet Prose + Projects and STM Multimedia, with support from several local organizations including the Historic Stumptown Neighborhood Association and Dogwood Health Trust. Years of community-centered research led by Ami Worthen and contemporary documentation by Elizabeth Lashay Garland underpin the project. Garland said, “The stories of Stumptown residents continue to inspire others by revealing the strength, creativity, and care that sustained the community despite systemic barriers and displacement.” She added, “Stumptown stands as a testament to the power of community in the face of exclusion, where families built homes, institutions, and networks of support that fostered dignity, pride, and belonging. Though physical spaces were disrupted by redlining and urban renewal, the spirit of Stumptown endures through memory, tradition, and storytelling—reminding us that place is not only defined by geography, but by the people who shaped it and continue to carry its legacy forward.”
A closing event will be held on April 21 at 5 p.m., featuring a documentary screening that brings Stumptown’s history to life through film. The event is intended as an opportunity for elders, descendants, students, and members of the public to engage directly with these stories.
Educational achievement remains an important topic in Buncombe County. Of 2,010 senior students taking the science portion of the ACT in Buncombe County school districts during the 2022-23 school year, 573 (28.5%) were considered ready for college according to state data. Among juniors taking science that year (1,931 students), 582 (30.1%) met college readiness benchmarks according to state data. In reading proficiency for seniors (2,010 tested), 827 (41.1%) reached college readiness according to state data, while among juniors (1,931 tested), 835 (43.2%) did so according to state data. For math proficiency among seniors (2,010 tested), only 514 (25.6%) were considered ready for college according to state data, compared with juniors where 631 out of 1,931 students (32.7%) met this standard according to state data.
Organizers hope that pairing historical archives with modern digital storytelling will help younger residents see themselves as part of their community’s legacy while encouraging ongoing conversations about preservation.
