I thank God that I was given the opportunity to be able to build bridges and the courage to be able to do what needed to be done.
Faiger Blackwell is the owner of Blackwell Funeral Home in Burlington, but before he became a business owner, he was heavily involved in local politics. At the age of 24, Blackwell became the first person of color to be elected to the Caswell County school board. His dedication to the school galvanized community support for changing the education system for the better.
Faiger ran for a seat on the school board for a second time and initially won. However, his position was revoked due to the presence of another board member with the same last name, who was white. Despite facing challenges, Faiger later became the second African-American elected to the county commission. He was sworn in, but he resigned shortly after due to conflicts of interest with his healthcare facilities.
Now, while he has taken a step back from direct political involvement, Faiger mentors the younger generation, encouraging and inspiring them to engage in civic matters and work towards a more inclusive and equitable society.