In Goldsboro, one family reflects on how their lived experiences are shaping the legacy of the next generation.
"I remember how proud I felt to know that my grandparents have actually contributed something to not only our history, but also our local community as well," Anthony Rodgers Williams said.
Anthony is one of six grandchildren of Howard and Ella Rodgers, who are originally from Goldsboro. The two met as teenagers attending Central High School.
"I saw walking down the hallway. She walked like a soldier, so proud," Howard said. "I said I'm going marry you one day."
He's a man of his word. After the two wed, Howard saw an advertisement in the newspaper: Carolina Trailways was looking for bus drivers.
"I went in for an interview in January and next thing I know, I was in school in March," said Howard.
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He was one of the first few Black bus drivers trained on the job. He remembers famous passengers, like athletes and past presidents. He ultimately drove two millions miles with no crashes.
"(Ella) almost wore knees and praying for me," said Howard.
Ella secured a position at Southern Bell, becoming the first Black information operator in the Goldsboro office.
She recalls a significant exchange with a coworker about a Confederate flag on their car.
"I referred to it as a Confederate flag; they called it a rebel flag," Ella said. "I told her, 'I can't ride behind that.' She responded, 'I'm proud of my heritage.' I said, 'I am, too, but I'm not proud that my people were enslaved. I couldn't ride behind that. To me, that's how it is.' The very next day, the flag was removed from the car."
Through it all, lessons of love, courage, all passed down giving their children and grandchildren a sense of self and belonging.
"The best contribution that I can make following in their footsteps is to educate the next group of leaders that this country has, whether that be in basic life skills or in communication, because ultimately, how do we all better society as a whole, we have to start it with the conversation," said Anthony.
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