About Us

The Black History Research Group of Henderson County began collecting, preserving, and sharing local African American history in the 1990s. 

Their early work culminated in the 1996 publication A Brief History of the Black Presence in Henderson County, created through deep collaboration with the local Black community. That commitment to shared authority and community-centered research continues today.
 
In August 2021, research on the Kingdom of the Happy Land accelerated when author Dolen Perkins-Valdez contacted Ronnie Pepper and the Black History Research Group to ask whether the local stories about the Kingdom were true. Ronnie's answer was an unequivocal "yes." The following year, Dolen visited Hendersonville, where Ronnie introduced her to Suzanne Hale, who shared their interest in the Kingdom’s history. The three quickly formed a close research partnership.
 
This exhibit grows out of  the research uncovered by the trio. Suzanne led much of the archival research, Ronnie contributed knowledge rooted in oral history, and Dolen synthesized the findings into a narrative that informed her 2025 novel Happy Land.
 
In 2024, public historian Emily Cadmus joined the project and developed this website to present the research and share the story revealed through the archives. Since the site’s launch in spring 2025, the group has continued its work, including an archaeological excavation led by Dr. Christina Benton in the summer of 2025.
 
The group hopes this exhibit will serve as a starting point for future historians, storytellers, journalists, and community members interested in learning more about the Kingdom of the Happy Land.
Suzanne Hale, Dolen Perkins-Valdez, Emily Cadmus, and Ronnie Pepper at the Henderson County Library, April 14, 2025.
Emily Cadmus, Christina Benton, and Suzanne Hale, exploring the former Kingdom property.

Ronnie Pepper is a lifelong Henderson County resident and a current library assistant at Henderson County Public Library. He is the recipient of numerous awards, but most recently, he was awarded the National Association of Black Storytellers Fellowship Award for North Carolina as a Black Appalachian Storyteller. A U.S. Army veteran, member of Contemporary First Baptist Church, and chair of the Black History Research Group of Henderson County, Ronnie devotes many hours serving local community and civic associations.

Suzanne Hale served 30 years as a Foreign Service Officer with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, including tours in Washington DC, Japan and China. From 2004 to 2007 she served as American Ambassador  to the Federated States of Micronesia. Since retiring to Western North Carolina in 2010, she has been an active volunteer with local environmental groups and the Black History Research Group of Henderson County.  

Dolen Perkins-Valdez is the author of four historical novels, including Happy Land (Berkley/Penguin Random House). Most recently, she was awarded the 2023 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work as well as the Silver Gavel Award from the American Bar Association. A native of Memphis, Tennessee, she lives in Washington, DC with her family. She can be found at her website: www.DolenPerkinsValdez.com.

Emily Cadmus is a public historian based in Asheville, N.C. She completed her undergraduate degree in History from the University of North Carolina Asheville (2021) and she received her MA in American History at Western Carolina University (2023). She currently freelances for individuals, nonprofits, and other organizations doing a broad range of public history and digital humanities work. She can be found at her website: www.emilycadmus.com.

Dr. Christina Benton is an archaeologist and the founder of CHRIS (Cultural Heritage Reource Impact Solutions, Inc. a consulting firm dedicated to uncovering and preserving stories embedded in historic landscapes. Her focus is on African diasporic archaeology, descendant engagement, and material culture. Christina is als a Fulbright Scholar and has over a decade of experience as a professor, teaching archaeology, forensics, and history. 

Contact Us

Email

info@blackhistories.org

Phone

(828) 290 - 8190

This digital exhibition was made possible by the Dogwood Charitable Foundation
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