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The Courage to Lead Cotton Patch Press On May 6, 1969, Howard Lee made history when he was elected the first black mayor of a predominantly white town in the South. Chapel Hill was home to the prestigious University of North Carolina, but only 10 percent of the town’s 12,500 permanent residents were black, and only half of those were even registered to vote. In a surprising upset, Lee changed history. In 1976, Lee ran for lieutenant governor of North Carolina. During the Democratic primary, he was the victim of subtle racial appeals, including a rumor that said if he were elected, blacks would hire an assassin to kill the governor, making Lee governor. He lost the second primary 48 to 52 percent. That fall, Governor Jim Hunt appointed Lee to the position of secretary of the Department of Natural and Economic Resources, making him the first black member of a governor’s cabinet in the South. In The Courage to Lead, Lee tells about his life growing up on a sharecropper’s farm in Georgia during segregation. He tells about the hurdles he faced, as well as the triumphs and the people who helped him, during his college and army days and his long and respected political career in North Carolina. Through his memoirs, Lee hopes to convey to the next generation what they can accomplish if they believe in themselves and face each stumbling block with determination. In The Courage to Lead, Lee says, “Now it’s time for me to bend down and lift others up so they can reach the next rung.”
Excerpt It was at Binkley Baptist Church that I met Dean Smith for the first time. He was on the rise but had not yet become a famous coach. I recall when he was first introduced to me as Dean Smith. I thought "Dean" was his position title at the university. So I naively asked, "Dean, now tell me what department do you head up?" He just smiled, and before he could respond someone else said, "He heads up a department called basketball." I was embarrassed and apologized. In spite of that awkward start, we developed a strong friendship, and Lillian and I developed a close relationship with the basketball program.
Reviews “Howard Lee has often said he is not a hero, but he is a role model for the youth growing up during today’s trying time. From humble beginnings he rose to the top in North Carolina leadership where he is a strong partner. Today he is North Carolina education’s greatest champion.” “These pages reveal the very effective public career of Howard Lee, an important leader in the changing South. His hard work, patience, and intelligent leadership moved us forward during critical years. We are all in his debt.”
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