Wisevoter
Durham

Durham Residents Petitioned to Honor Baba Chuck Davis

The campaign seeks to rename the local Five Points plaza to commemorate the late African American dance legend.

Updated on Sept. 21, 2026 in African-American

Screen-print poster illustration of a bronze dance sculpture in a brick-paved urban plaza, evoking a sense of local community tribute.
Durham residents are petitioning city officials to rename the Five Points plaza in honor of the late choreographer Baba Chuck Davis. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Do you support renaming public landmarks to honor influential members of your local community?

Supporters in 2024 launched an online petition to rename the Five Points plaza in Durham after the late Baba Chuck Davis. The effort aims to preserve the cultural legacy of the choreographer who founded the African American Dance Ensemble.

Why it matters

Renaming a prominent public space serves as a permanent tribute to Davis, whose work in dance and Kwanzaa celebrations influenced the artistic landscape of the Durham community for decades.

The petition has reached 100 of its 2,000 required signatures. Baba Chuck Davis was 80 years old when he died in 2017 and famously hosted a local Kwanzaa festival for 30 years.

The players

Baba Chuck Davis

He was a renowned choreographer and 6-foot-5 cultural icon who founded the African American Dance Ensemble in Durham.

Durham Cultural Advisory Board

This municipal body provides guidance on arts and culture initiatives and has endorsed the renaming campaign.

Durham Planning Department

This city agency manages the administrative procedures required for naming and renaming public infrastructure.

Durham City Council

This legislative body holds the authority to approve official changes to public location names.

The details

Organizers are utilizing an online petition on Change.org to rally support for the renaming of the Five Points plaza. The campaign must navigate an administrative process involving the Durham Planning Department and the City Council to finalize the change.

Timeline

  1. 1960s: Davis founded the Chuck Davis Dance Company.

  2. 1977: Davis founded the Dance Africa program.

  3. 1983: Davis founded the African American Dance Ensemble.

  4. 2017: Baba Chuck Davis died at the age of 80.

  5. 2024: Organizers began the plaza renaming process.

Culture Shift

This effort reflects a broader movement to permanently embed the histories of influential Black cultural leaders into the physical infrastructure of American cities. It follows the legacy established by the 1983 founding of the African American Dance Ensemble in Durham.

Residents may see changes to public signage at the Five Points plaza if the proposal successfully clears the municipal approval process. Supporters are currently encouraged to sign the online petition to meet the 2,000-signature threshold required for consideration.

The takeaway

Honoring historical figures through civic renaming creates a tangible connection between past cultural leadership and modern community identity. Residents can contribute to the preservation of local history by participating in official administrative advocacy processes.

Further reading

Learn more about the artistic heritage of the area on the African-American section page.

Live Poll

Do you support renaming public landmarks to honor influential members of your local community?