Booker T. Spicely | Durham event honors the life of the black soldier of the Second World War in racially motivated shootings

Durham, NC (WTVD) – The Hayti Heritage Center honors the life and inheritance of a soldier of the Second World War, which was shot in Durham 81 years ago.

Booker T. Spicely was a private private black army during the war.

Spicely was in uniform in July 1944 and attended friends in Durham when a white bus driver followed him out of the bus and shot him because he had refused to give his seat to a white passenger.

He died after he had refused medical care that did not accept black people in the nearby Watts Hospital.

Also see | New Durham marker honors murdered black soldiers who stood for segregation

The bus driver was later acquitted.

On Friday evening, the Hayti Heritage Center organized a reception for the opening of an exhibition that honors Spicely's life.

The exhibition runs until July 13th.

Find out more | Murder of Booker T. Spicely Fall revisited