As the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence approaches, the newly formed American Revolution Roundtable will hold its first meeting beginning at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 14, at the Queen Street Deli in Kinston.

The roundtable focusing on the American Revolution is the brainchild of Chadwick Stokes, a history teacher at E.B. Frink Middle School and the organizer of the Frink History Lab.

“Our mission is to foster a dynamic and inclusive space where history enthusiasts, scholars, students, and curious minds can come together to engage in thoughtful, open, and respectful discussions about the American Revolution,” Stokes explained.

The roundtable’s first aim is to deepen historical understanding through a comprehensive, nuanced exploration of the causes, events, and outcomes of the American Revolution. The roundtable will focus on both the traditional narrative and on underrepresented perspectives.

The second goal is to foster critical thinking to challenge conventional interpretations by exploring questions about liberty, revolution, and governance. Participants will also consider the complex legacies of the Revolution that continue to shape modern American identity and global history.

To promote this critical thinking, the roundtable will invite historians, political scientists, sociologists, and other experts from diverse backgrounds to bring their perspectives to ensure the group is a melting pot of interdisciplinary learning.

Another goal is to use lessons from the American Revolution to stimulate conversations on contemporary political, social, and ethical issues and to encourage participants to reflect actively on their role in society and in shaping the future.

Stokes is well known among innovators in the teaching of history. For instance, he was chosen to join 16 educators from across the state in a highly selective fellowship program designed to enhance teaching issues related to and emanating from our nation’s founding.

As members of the inaugural cohort of America 250 Freedom Fellows, Stokes and his colleagues will take part in a unique professional development initiative connected to the state’s America 250 programming to mark the approaching 250th anniversary in 2026 of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
Stokes was also honored as a nominee for the 2024 Patricia Behring Teacher of the Year.

The National History Day’s North Carolina affiliate nominated Stokes in the middle school (junior) division and Ms. Naomi Barlaz from Cary Academy in the high school (senior) division.

The 102 teachers selected as the 2024 Patricia Behring Teacher of the Year nominees represent 50 of NHD’s 58 affiliates. These affiliates include all 50 states and the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, and international schools in Europe and Asia.

Each nominee is a teacher who demonstrates a commitment to engaging students in historical learning through the innovative use of primary sources, implementation of active learning strategies to foster historical thinking skills, and participation in the National History Day Contest.

Chadwick asked me to be the first presenter for the American Revolution Roundtable. My presentation will focus on the attitude of Great Britain toward her American colonies during the first 156 years of their collective existence. That attitude has been termed “Salutary Neglect.” I hope to demonstrate how the abrupt shift in this mode of interaction brought the American Revolution in just 13 years.

President John Kennedy once wrote an essay titled “The Memory of a Nation.” In that piece, Kennedy argued that history is the collective memory of a nation and that to forget that history is to suffer a form of national amnesia.

As we approach the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, we need to look back and study our history from several vantage points.

Please join us at 6 p.m. on Jan. 14, at Queen Street Deli to do just that.

Mike Parker is a columnist for the Neuse News. You can reach him at mparker16@gmail.com.