Saltwater Stories: Seabreeze Edition Brings Nationally Recognized Voices to Historic Black Beachfront for an Unforgettable Evening of Food, History, and Cultural Preservation
WILMINGTON, NC — On Sunday, August 2nd, from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., guests from across the country will gather on historic Black-owned beachfront property in Seabreeze, North Carolina, for a one-of-a-kind cultural experience that blends award-worthy cuisine, living history, and powerful conversation.
Presented by WilmingtoNColor and Voyce, Saltwater Stories: Seabreeze Edition will immerse attendees in the remarkable story of Seabreeze and Freeman’s Beach one of the most significant yet often overlooked Afro-Indigenous coastal communities in America.
The evening will feature storytelling by Sister Elise, a descendant of the historic Freeman family whose ancestors helped establish Seabreeze as a refuge, gathering place, and economic hub for Black families on the coast of the Carolinas. Guests will also hear from Brea Baker, nationally recognized freedom fighter, Yale University graduate, and bestselling author of Rooted: The American Legacy of Land Theft and the Modern Movement for Black Land Ownership.
Together, their stories will illuminate the enduring connection between land, freedom, identity, and community preservation along North Carolina’s coast.
Guests will enjoy a curated three-course seafood dinner prepared by Chef Keith Rhodes, acclaimed chef, former Bravo Top Chef contestant, and two-time James Beard Award nominee. Each course will be paired with stories that explore the cultural and historical significance of Seabreeze and the families who built it.
Following the dinner, attendees will participate in a live panel discussion featuring Sister Elise, Brea Baker, Chef Keith Rhodes, and Cedric Harrison, founder of WilmingtoNColor Heritage Tours. The conversation will explore Black land ownership, cultural preservation, coastal heritage, food traditions, economic development, marine debris, and the future of historically Black communities in America.
Once known as the “Black Beach of the Carolinas,” Seabreeze became a destination for Black families throughout the Jim Crow era when segregation limited access to many public beaches and resorts. Today, descendants of the founding families continue the work of preserving this historic community and its legacy.
Saltwater Stories has quickly become one of North Carolina’s most sought-after cultural experiences, with previous events selling out and drawing guests from across the region. The Seabreeze Edition marks the series’ most ambitious installment yet, bringing together nationally recognized voices on one of the most historically significant pieces of Black-owned coastal property in the South.
As conversations around land ownership, cultural preservation, and American history continue to grow nationwide, Saltwater Stories offers a rare opportunity to engage directly with the people, places, and stories at the center of those discussions.
Event Details:
Saltwater Stories: Seabreeze Edition
Sunday, August 2, 2026
6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
1114 S Seabreeze Rd
Ticket $125 includes, meal, story and panel, and a copy of Brea Baker’s book Rooted
Featuring:
• Sister Elise, Freeman Family Descendant and Seabreeze Storyteller
• Brea Baker, Bestselling Author and Freedom Fighter
• Chef Keith Rhodes, Two-Time James Beard Award Nominee and Bravo Top Chef Alum
• Cedric Harrison, Founder of WilmingtoNColor Heritage Tours
Highlights:
• Three-course seafood dining experience
• Live storytelling on historic Black-owned beachfront property
• Afro-Indigenous history of Seabreeze and Freeman’s Beach
• Interactive panel discussion
• Opportunity to engage with descendants and cultural leaders preserving one of America’s most significant Black coastal communities
This event is being powered by : Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor
Saltwater Stories: Seabreeze Edition Brings Nationally Recognized Voices to Historic Black Beachfront for an Unforgettable Evening of Food, History, and Cultural Preservation
WILMINGTON, NC — On Sunday, August 2nd, from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., guests from across the country will gather on historic Black-owned beachfront property in Seabreeze, North Carolina, for a one-of-a-kind cultural experience that blends award-worthy cuisine, living history, and powerful conversation.
Presented by WilmingtoNColor and Voyce, Saltwater Stories: Seabreeze Edition will immerse attendees in the remarkable story of Seabreeze and Freeman’s Beach one of the most significant yet often overlooked Afro-Indigenous coastal communities in America.
The evening will feature storytelling by Sister Elise, a descendant of the historic Freeman family whose ancestors helped establish Seabreeze as a refuge, gathering place, and economic hub for Black families on the coast of the Carolinas. Guests will also hear from Brea Baker, nationally recognized freedom fighter, Yale University graduate, and bestselling author of Rooted: The American Legacy of Land Theft and the Modern Movement for Black Land Ownership.
Together, their stories will illuminate the enduring connection between land, freedom, identity, and community preservation along North Carolina’s coast.
Guests will enjoy a curated three-course seafood dinner prepared by Chef Keith Rhodes, acclaimed chef, former Bravo Top Chef contestant, and two-time James Beard Award nominee. Each course will be paired with stories that explore the cultural and historical significance of Seabreeze and the families who built it.
Following the dinner, attendees will participate in a live panel discussion featuring Sister Elise, Brea Baker, Chef Keith Rhodes, and Cedric Harrison, founder of WilmingtoNColor Heritage Tours. The conversation will explore Black land ownership, cultural preservation, coastal heritage, food traditions, economic development, marine debris, and the future of historically Black communities in America.
Once known as the “Black Beach of the Carolinas,” Seabreeze became a destination for Black families throughout the Jim Crow era when segregation limited access to many public beaches and resorts. Today, descendants of the founding families continue the work of preserving this historic community and its legacy.
Saltwater Stories has quickly become one of North Carolina’s most sought-after cultural experiences, with previous events selling out and drawing guests from across the region. The Seabreeze Edition marks the series’ most ambitious installment yet, bringing together nationally recognized voices on one of the most historically significant pieces of Black-owned coastal property in the South.
As conversations around land ownership, cultural preservation, and American history continue to grow nationwide, Saltwater Stories offers a rare opportunity to engage directly with the people, places, and stories at the center of those discussions.
Event Details:
Saltwater Stories: Seabreeze Edition
Sunday, August 2, 2026
6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
1114 S Seabreeze Rd
Ticket $125 includes, meal, story and panel, and a copy of Brea Baker’s book Rooted
Featuring:
• Sister Elise, Freeman Family Descendant and Seabreeze Storyteller
• Brea Baker, Bestselling Author and Freedom Fighter
• Chef Keith Rhodes, Two-Time James Beard Award Nominee and Bravo Top Chef Alum
• Cedric Harrison, Founder of WilmingtoNColor Heritage Tours
Highlights:
• Three-course seafood dining experience
• Live storytelling on historic Black-owned beachfront property
• Afro-Indigenous history of Seabreeze and Freeman’s Beach
• Interactive panel discussion
• Opportunity to engage with descendants and cultural leaders preserving one of America’s most significant Black coastal communities
This event is being powered by : Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor
