Elizabeth City State University unveiled a mural on the walls of G.R. Little Library celebrating visionaries who have profoundly influenced both the library and the surrounding community. The unveiling took place during the school’s annual homecoming week, marking a significant moment for students, alumni, and faculty alike.
Nia Kearney is a university library technician and the program coordinator for the mural’s creation. She spearheaded the initiative alongside a group of enthusiastic students: Kaleigh Booker, Kordell Edmondson, Aakilah Green, Daija Hassell, Lauren Jackson, Maleah Lassiter, Naijya Leggett, Devin McKinsey, Isabella Rodriguez, Serenity Shipp, Kristyana White, and Freeman Williams. Over the course of a year, these students collaborated in the library’s production lab to transform their vision into a stunning work of art.
Kearney expressed her hopes for the mural, stating, “I wanted students to be informed of the rich legacy of the institution and inspire them to know they can also have an impact on their community.” The mural serves as a celebration of notable ECSU leaders and impactful figures from across North Carolina.
A Library Legend Receives Her Flowers
Among the unveiling attendants was Juanita Midgette Spence, a retired library icon depicted in the mural. “It is quite an honor to be remembered in a permanent fashion,” Spence said. “It was a pleasant surprise to share a mural with those who have walked the campus of ECSU since its inception. It is a testament to what we have done as a team.”
Spence, who worked at the G.R. Little Library for 34 years, played a pivotal role in modernizing its services through various grants and led a transformative $4.5 million renovation. Her leadership contributed significantly to the library’s successful accreditations, leaving a lasting legacy.
The mural also honors other distinguished figures, including Alex Haley, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author; Robert F. Williams, a civil rights activist renowned for his advocacy of armed self-defense; Claude Greene, who revolutionized the library during his 25-year tenure; Hugh Cale, a legislator instrumental in founding ECSU; and Peter Weddick Moore, the school’s first principal and a staunch advocate for Black education in North Carolina.
Latif A. Tarik, an assistant professor of history, spoke about the project during the unveiling. “About two years ago, we started several initiatives to bring more art to ECSU,” he explained. “These are some of the things the students said they wanted.” He emphasized the importance of inclusivity in art, asserting that “art and history belong to everyone.”
The mural unveiling is part of a broader initiative at ECSU to integrate art across disciplines. Last year, the university revealed a portrait of Ruby Bridges and has hosted several art and music festivals. The new mural stands as a centerpiece in the library’s production lab, symbolizing pride and ownership in creative space. Tarik hopes to encourage more professors to develop projects that will utilize the production lab.
