H. K. Edgerton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
H. K. Edgerton
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Edgerton reciting a Civil War poem during a Sons of Confederate Veterans and United Daughters of the Confederacy meeting in Tampa, Florida
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Harold Kenneth Edgerton
February 18, 1948 North Carolina, U.S.
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| Died | January 18, 2026 (aged 77) |
| Occupation | Activist |
| Known for | Advocacy of Southern heritage and the Confederate Flag |
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Harold Kenneth Edgerton (born February 18, 1948 – died January 18, 2026) was an American activist. He was known for supporting the history and traditions of the Southern states and for promoting the Confederate flag. Mr. Edgerton was an African-American member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, a group that focuses on Southern heritage. He also served as president of the Asheville, North Carolina, chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). Later, he was on the board of the Southern Legal Resource Center.
Contents
H. K. Edgerton's Life Story
His Early Years
Harold Kenneth Edgerton was born in North Carolina on February 18, 1948. His father, Roger Roland Edgerton, was a Protestant minister.
His Work and Activism
Mr. Edgerton worked to improve racial issues through the Asheville chapter of the NAACP. He was elected as its president. Before this, he was an activist who supported Southern heritage. He attended events to show his support for the Confederate flag. In 1998, his membership with the NAACP ended due to organizational rules. Some groups disagreed with his views. They also questioned his association with certain legal groups.
By 2000, Mr. Edgerton became the chairman of the board of directors for the Southern Legal Resource Center. This organization was led by Kirk Lyons, a lawyer. Skip Alston, who was the Executive Director of the North Carolina NAACP, shared his thoughts in a 2000 interview. He said that Mr. Edgerton had been seen as "a true activist standing for what is right."
In 2009, Mr. Edgerton challenged a newly elected Asheville City Council member. He questioned if the council member could serve in public office because of their personal beliefs.
To share his ideas, Mr. Edgerton took long walks. In 2002, he walked from North Carolina to Texas. This walk was to raise awareness about Southern heritage. In January 2009, he walked from North Carolina to Washington, D.C. He wanted the U.S. government to officially recognize the Confederate battle flag. He saw it as a symbol of Southern heritage. Many people saw him as a brave figure. This was because he was an African-American member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans. The group often featured him at their events.
Mr. Edgerton also ran for political office several times. He tried to become mayor and a councilman in Asheville, but his campaigns were not successful.
His Later Years
Harold Kenneth Edgerton passed away on January 18, 2026. He was 77 years old.
Related Topics
- Nelson W. Winbush, another African-American member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans
- Georgia Benton, African-American member of the United Daughters of the Confederacy
- Mattie Clyburn Rice, African-American member of the United Daughters of the Confederacy
