10/24/2026
Two women. Two remarkable stories. Neighbors, classmates, and friends who share a legacy of breaking barriers.
Pictured together are Oralene Simmons (left) and Etta Whitner Patterson (right), two women who helped change the course of higher education in Western North Carolina.
Both were members of ASCORE (Asheville Student Committee on Racial Equality), a student-led civil rights organization that helped transform Asheville during the Civil Rights Movement.
ASCORE members did more than protest segregation. They trained in nonviolent resistance, learned to organize, negotiated with community leaders, and challenged discrimination in schools, libraries, restaurants, and other public spaces. Their courage was matched by preparation, discipline, and a commitment to justice that extended far beyond their student years.
In 1961, Oralene Simmons became the first Black student to attend Mars Hill College, breaking a racial barrier at an institution that had excluded Black students for generations. She also helped desegregate Asheville’s Pack Memorial Library and continued serving her community for decades.
Etta Whitner Patterson served as president of ASCORE, helping lead a generation of young activists. She was also among the first Black students to attend Asheville-Biltmore College, now UNC Asheville.
Last Friday, decades after standing together in the fight for equality, these two longtime friends came together to celebrate ASCORE and the movement they helped build. What a beautiful testament to the friendships and lifelong leadership that grew out of their shared commitment to justice!
Their stories remind us that the Civil Rights Movement was happening right here in the mountains of Western North Carolina. ASCORE helped develop a generation of leaders whose courage, organizing, and dedication opened doors for those who followed.
Do you know someone who was a member of ASCORE? Celebrate them in the comments! Share their name, a memory, or a story so we can help preserve this important chapter of our history.
