Recap of HEARTS Sacred Grounds ‘26: Beyond the Wall
Keynote speaker, Dr. Julia Robinson Moore at HEARTS Sacred Grounds ‘26: Beyond the Wall
Unearthing the Living History of Our Region
On August 15, 2026, the HEARTS Collaborative presented its first Davidson event at the Hurt Hub in Davidson for a poignant milestone: the fifth anniversary of HEARTS’ Sacred Grounds series. Titled "Sacred Grounds ‘26: Beyond the Wall," this immersive event invited the community to look closer at the history beneath our feet, specifically the burial grounds of the enslaved, which have often been marginalized or forgotten.
As we reflect on an afternoon of deep learning and shared connection, we are reminded why place-based experiences are vital to understanding who we are today.
Featured speaker Dr. Julia Robinson Moore offered a profound look at the burial grounds of the enslaved. Her scholarship emphasized that the far-reaching legacy of plantation families across the surrounding counties, along with their complex connections through marriage and the enslavement of others, remains woven into our present landscape.
Davidson College Connections
We were also honored to hear from Rev. Daniel Heath, JD, Associate Chaplain at Davidson College and Director of Descendant Community Outreach. His personal perspective as a descendant of Charlotte Kerns, one of the first enslaved people at Cedar Grove in Huntersville, and also as a descendant of past Davidson College employees, one of whom was Hazeline Knox, shown in the photo. Rev. Heath’s personal reflections bridged the gap between the past and present.
His genealogy work highlighted the uncomfortable truths about the founding of Davidson College, where early trustees, including Cedar Grove’s James Torrance, rented enslaved individuals to the college for campus construction, maintenance, and student service before emancipation.
Virtually every individual involved in Davidson’s founding was tied to the system of slavery. After emancipation, many descendants of the enslaved continued to work for Davidson, and their stories are highlighted at Davidson’s Oak Street Museum. Many of these descendants reside in the communities of West Davidson, Smithville, and Pottstown. It is through the work of the HEARTS Reunion Project that we continue to learn and share the many stories within these communities.
The Ecology of Memory
A unique pillar of HEARTS is Ecology. We explored how the natural world serves as a living guardian of memory. Abigail Jennings and Marty Gimson shared field notes on how specific flora, when found in combination, act as markers for unmarked burial sites. Plants such as yucca and vinca minor (periwinkle) were often purposely planted by the bereaved, and their presence today provides substantial visual clues to hidden history. Sometimes the natural environment preserves history in ways that written records cannot.
DaShawn and Wendy Hickman with their band at HEARTS Sacred Grounds ‘26.
Music and Movement: Cultural Expression
In keeping with the HEARTS tradition of uniting history with cultural expression, the event featured outstanding artistic contributions:
Sacred Steel: Nationally acclaimed musician DaShawn Hickman, along with Wendy Hickman and their band, brought the vibrant sounds of Sacred Steel to the stage. With roots in the African American Pentecostal churches of the 1930s, this soulful performance allowed attendees to pause and simply "live in the time and space that we have been given".
Dynamic Dance: The Vision Elite Royalty Dance company moved the audience with a performance choreographed specifically for this event, translating memory and honor into physical art.
An Invitation to Explore
The presentation concluded with an invitation to visit and tour the "With These Hands" memorial and the Oak Street Museum, with Dr. Hilary Green, a James B. Duke Professor of Africana Studies at Davidson College and Davidson’s public historian, who provided an overview of these critical projects that honor the enslaved and Black workers who built the college. Davidson has recognized and honored the history of its past, creating these memorials. As President of Davidson, Doug Hicks remarked in a Charlotte Post article, “Our responsibility in the present is to talk about it, teach it, and make sure it never happens again. We are called to educate our community about this history, and to expand the college outreach and reconciliation work toward descendants of those who were enslaved.”
Thank you, Davidson College
We extend our deepest gratitude to our co-presenting partner, Davidson College, the staff of The Hurt Hub, our volunteers, and our dedicated HEARTS Circle members. It is through your generosity that we can continue illuminating our shared heritage through free public programming.
HEARTS Happenings:
Why We Gather
HEARTS Happenings reveal historic truths about what literally happened in our own backyards. From historic sites to special ecological spaces, HEARTS shares place-based research that provides rich insights into our local past. HEARTS Happenings are free to the community and open to all ages.
The HEARTS (History, Ecology, Arts, Reunion, Trails, Store) mission is to reconnect historic sites with their surrounding communities. We believe that history does not stop at county or city lines. Our place-based programs are designed to:
Trace Genealogy: Helping community members learn the stories of their own forebears.
Foster Connection: Bridging the gaps between counties and people.
Preserve the Endangered: Connecting the community to stories and sites in danger of being forgotten.
Bring Old Places to Life: Creating sustainable solutions for historic sites, preserving and protecting them for future generations.
Join Us for Our Next Chapter
As we continue our work, we invite you to subscribe below for future HEARTS Happenings and events. Please also consider becoming a HEARTS Circle Member to join us in bringing new life to our special historic places.
