On December 16, 2024, the Durham City Council commemorated Sam Cooke’s legacy, marking 60 years since the release of A Change Is Gonna Come, one of the most significant songs in American history. Cooke wrote the song after speaking to North Carolina Central University (NCCU) students in 1963, reflecting Durham’s deep legacy to the Civil Rights Movement. The proclamation was a tribute to Cooke’s impact. Emancipate NC attorney Ian Mance suggested the proclamation, and attended the meeting alongside Angela Lee, Levi Wiggins, Ruth Montia, and Jason Perlmutter.
The song continues to serve as a powerful anthem for social change resonating deeply in communities like Durham with long legacies of fighting for justice.