Meet Cedric Harrison, Founder of WilmingtoNColor

For centuries, African Americans made up most of Wilmington’s population, shaping its neighborhoods, businesses and culture in ways that are often overlooked or untold. WilmingtoNColor, founded by Wilmington native Cedric Harrison, brings these stories to life through immersive tours and presentations. Along the way, participants learn about pivotal chapters of Wilmington’s Black history, such as the Wilmington Massacre and Coup of 1898, the historic Black communities at our nearby island beaches and the service of the U.S. Colored Troops (USCT) during the Civil War.

In this Q&A, Cedric reflects on the path that led him to create WilmingtoNColor, the impact it’s had on the community and what visitors can expect when exploring Wilmington through its lens.

What inspired you to start WilmingtoNColor?

I was born and raised in Wilmington, but honestly, I didn’t know the city’s history until college. A film screening of “Wilmington on Fire” really set me on fire to figure out how to make Wilmington’s history accessible for anyone else who didn’t learn it growing up.

Before the WilmingtoNColor tour, I created a coloring book series, “Wilmington In Color,” in partnership with a UNC-Wilmington professor, a local high school teacher and kids who illustrated the books, learning history as they worked. The first book highlighted historic buildings, and after its success, we made a second edition highlighting people, with help from GLOW Academy’s art teacher and the famous artist HP Fangs (a.k.a. Greyson Davis). You can still find both books locally at Old Books on Front Street, the Cameron Art Museum gift shop and online.

Other pieces of inspiration came from my nonprofit, Support The Port, my TED Talk at TEDxAirlie and the Z. Smith Reynolds All4NC Fellowship I won out of 400 applicants nationwide. That fellowship played a huge part, giving me a chance to visit African American history museums across the country and build a strong foundation for connecting people to Wilmington’s Black history and current-day businesses and communities.

After the success of “Wilmington In Color,” what made you realize there was an opportunity to build something bigger?

I sold about 20,000 copies of the book, from California to Africa, and realized the stories of Wilmington were speaking to people from every background and in a way that went far beyond the city. Visitors, longtime residents and newcomers all responded the same way – they saw reflections of their own cities, families and histories in Wilmington’s story. That’s when it became clear this wasn’t just about representation; it was about connection. The WilmingtoNColor tour became a way to help people understand our country (and themselves) through one city’s lens.

How would you describe WilmingtoNColor’s mission to someone encountering it for the first time?

WilmingtoNColor exists to tell Wilmington’s full story in a way that helps people understand the broader American experience. Through local narratives, we explore universal themes of resilience, innovation, struggle and progress.

Our goal is to not just tell the sad stories, but to highlight the contributions and resilience of Black people. Take 1898 – we don’t just shed light on the tragedy, but also the Fusion Party, a coalition of free Black people and progressive white people who came together. It shows that people can put differences aside and push society forward.

What impacts have you seen WilmingtoNColor have on the community?

We see the impact every day when guests from different backgrounds leave the tour in conversation with each other, even across language barriers, sharing reflections and asking questions. Black guests often leave feeling affirmed and seen, while others get a deeper understanding of Black contributions to Wilmington and the U.S.

People get more socially involved, too – they want to volunteer, invest and learn more stories, not just in Wilmington but across North Carolina. We’ve even changed the way some schools think about teaching history because we bring the classroom on the road. More and more, people are becoming aware of Wilmington’s history in ways that feel alive and personal.

Beyond WilmingtoNColor, you’ve spent your career creating opportunities for Wilmington’s Black community. How does that work connect to or influence your work with WilmingtoNColor?

It’s all connected and rooted in my belief that understanding creates empathy. When I started Support the Port, I didn’t know Wilmington’s full history. Once I did, it became the missing piece of my vision. You can’t fully understand the issues of today without understanding yesterday. The tour is my way to share that vision, helping people see the city’s history and where we are now. And it’s not just the Black community that benefits; it’s everyone.

As a Wilmington native, how has growing up here shaped the work you do today?

Growing up here showed me that history lives all around us, even when it isn’t acknowledged. I’m not the first to study or teach Wilmington’s history, but my commitment comes from the frustration of seeing it left out of classrooms and from trying to understand my own family’s place in it. If I weren’t a native, I wouldn’t be doing this work.

What sets Wilmington’s history and culture apart from other coastal cities?

Wilmington stands out for once having the nation’s largest railroad, which accelerated development across North Carolina, and for being the setting of the country’s only successful coup in 1898. At the same time, Wilmington’s history and culture reflect global themes of democracy, displacement, resistance and resilience. That’s why people from different cities and countries see themselves in its story.

What do you wish visitors better understood about Wilmington’s history?

First, Wilmington’s story isn’t separate from American or world history – it’s a chapter within it. Understanding what happened here helps explain broader systems, movements and cultural shifts that still shape our lives.

Second, Wilmington’s Black history isn’t just about tragedy. Some people think we only talk about the bad because of the coup, but we also talk about the beautiful examples that were being set before it. On our Wilmington tour, for example, we cover the city’s Underground Railroad stop – which a lot of people are surprised to learn about – and share artifacts like a 1949 copy of “The Green Book,” which has brought some people to tears. When you pay attention to every layer of the story, you start to see that early Wilmington was one of the first fully developed cities in the nation.

What are your favorite places to visit in Wilmington?

• On Thyme – Owned by my old college roommate, and part of the WilmingtoNColor tour route.
• Voyce Bistro – Recently opened by chef Keith Rhodes, a two-time James Beard nominee and the first African American chef from the state to compete on a major national cooking competition show (“Top Chef,” Season 9).
• Sweet D’s Cuisine – A bakery in Midtown serving some of the city’s best stuffed croissants.
• Brooklyn Arts District – Home to The Jelly Cabinet Bakery and Chow Town, a food truck hub with lots of great options throughout the week. The neighborhood also has Social District hours from noon to 5 p.m. on the first and third Saturday of each month, when visitors can grab drinks from participating spots and stroll N. Fourth Street.
• U.S. Colored Troops Park at Cameron Art Museum – An opportunity to learn about the contributions of the USCT during the Civil War and visit the "Boundless" sculpture by artist Stephen Hayes, located on the grounds where the USCT once fought.

What can visitors expect from WilmingtoNColor’s brand-new presentations in Carolina Beach and Wrightsville Beach, and why were these historic Black beach communities so significant?

The Seabreeze presentation explores a historic Black beach community and its story of land, freedom and belonging. It’s a lesson in environmental and social justice that resonates locally and globally. The Shell Island presentation highlights the history of a thriving Black-owned beach resort destination in the 1920s, providing deeper insight into Black entrepreneurship and culture during the early 20^th century.

Note: Visitors can book the Shell Island experience on our website, while the Seabreeze presentation is bookable only by emailing info@WilmingtoNColor.com.

What’s next for WilmingtoNColor?

We’re working on expanding to other cities around North Carolina, franchising an NColor brand that shows people their city’s history from its beginnings until now in an entertaining way. As we’ve grown, we’ve seen how much this approach can enhance the way these stories are told, and we want to use that momentum to empower others around the state. Part of that is planting the seed with NColor Festivals in different cities to spotlight storytellers and connect people to stories that are often overlooked, undervalued or outdated.

Is there anything else you’d like to share?

We’re hosting a Black His/Her Story Carnival & Block Party on Feb. 21 at Chow Town (11 a.m. to 4 p.m.), the Durham’NColor Festival on March 28 (noon to 3 p.m.) and the Charlotte'NColor Festival on May 2 (11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.). These events are all community-focused, with pay-what-you-can tickets available at this link.

Merchandise is available on our website, and we regularly take bookings for speaking engagements and workshops that unpack Wilmington’s history and its lessons for today. Learn more at wilmingtoncolor.com.

To dig deeper into the city’s past, visitors can download the Wilmington History app and take the self-guided African American History tour, which traces 32 historically significant sites. Along the way, you’ll scroll through archival images and read about local trailblazers like George Lawrence Mabson (North Carolina’s first Black attorney), Dr. James Francis Shober (North Carolina’s first Black doctor) and Robert Robinson Taylor (the country’s first Black professionally trained architect).