Actor and playwright Mike Wiley of Pittsboro, NC travelled to Chowan University to share his brand of history and humor with the Upward Bound students. The interactive and informative presentation used a comedic approach to teach the harsh realities of life in the past and the obstacles others had to overcome.

"It's a fun and impactful way to learn about your ancestors," Wiley said of the many characters and voices used to relate and engage the audience. "You walk out smiling eventhough it's a really tough history." Like his portrayal here of one of history's most famous runaway slaves Henry "Box" Brown who shipped himself from his plantation to the freedom of Philadelphia in 1849.