| In Biographical Conversations with Howard N. Lee, we explore the many contributions of this legendary North Carolina politician.
This original series takes a penetrating look at the life and times of the renowned North Carolina statesman, from his election as mayor Chapel Hill in 1969 - making him the first African American mayor of a predominantly white southern city - to his service in the state legislature to being the first African American to serve in the state cabinet. Howard Lee helped shepherd North Carolina through its transition to a dynamic, modern, and multi-cultural leader in the New South.
Series host Shannon Vickery takes part in the one-on-one exchanges with this influential leader throughout all three episodes of Biographical Conversation with Howard N. Lee. From his steadfast efforts to settle worker strife on the UNC Chapel Hill campus to bringing public transportation to Chapel Hill to his exemplary service in state government, his trailblazing story holds up a mirror to the era of change that was a hallmark of the latter half of the 20th century in North Carolina and America. In 2003, Governor Mike Easley selected Lee for the newly created position of senior education advisor, opening another avenue for the veteran policy maker's expertise. Lee eventually won election as chairman of the state board of education, and in 2009, became director of Governor Bev Perdue's education cabinet.
"The Biographical Conversations series is an historic video legacy for the people of North Carolina. This series is a great service, providing compelling television programs for today and an invaluable archive for the future," says Shannon Vickery, program host and UNC-TV's Director of Production. "It is an honor to have Howard Lee join the growing list of North Carolinians who have participated in the series. Through our three hours of candid conversation with Mr. Lee, UNC-TV viewers will not only gain valuable personal insights into a remarkable leader, but also will learn a valuable history lesson about a remarkable period of change and progress in our state. It's a revealing conversation viewers statewide won't want to miss."
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