Born in Mooresville, Selma Burke was a groundbreaking sculptor and one of the few women represented in the Harlem Renaissance. Her portrait of President Franklin D. Roosevelt is likely the model for his image on the back of the U.S. dime. She is also known for her public sculptures of African American figures, including Duke Ellington, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Booker T. Washington.
"The Uncommon Story: Notable North Carolinians" is a series of inspiring short stories celebrating remarkable North Carolinians whose accomplishments have made a great impact, from scientists, inventors and innovators to musicians, artists and athletes.
This story was produced with support from the NC Department of Natural & Cultural Resources.
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