April Mitchell

You have to work twice as hard just to be seen.

April Mitchell, granddaughter of Civil Rights activists, grew up in Alamance County. Her mother was the greatest influence in her life. If anyone needed advice or a plate of food, her mother would be the first person they turned to.

In elementary school, she never recognized racial differences between herself and her classmates; she just thought “We’re all kids.” She had to learn a lot at a young age to fit in.

Growing up, April’s mother would tell her, “You have to work twice as hard just to be seen.” When Obama was elected, April thought that she could feel the country shifting to recognize that people of color had value, but that did not last.

Despite experiencing racial inequities, April loved growing up in her community, a community that always looked out for and took care of each other.