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MLK Association of Asheville
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"Our LIVES Begin To End The Day
We Become SILENT About Things That MATTER"
-Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Honoring the Legacy of James E. “Bo Bo” Ferguson

“He went on to become one of the nation’s leading Civil Rights attorneys…”

Ferguson first emerged as a leader while a student at Stephens-Lee High School, where he founded and led the Asheville Student Committee on Racial Equality (ASCORE). Under his leadership, ASCORE played a pivotal role in desegregating many of Asheville’s institutions, including Pack Library, movie theaters, restaurants, and other public spaces.

He went on to become one of the nation’s leading Civil Rights attorneys, representing clients in some of the most historic cases in the Southeast. Most notably, he served as lead counsel in the case of the Wilmington Ten, a landmark case that drew national attention. Ferguson also represented numerous cases in Asheville, including the ongoing desegregation of Asheville City Schools.

He co-founded North Carolina’s first interracial law firm and played a key role in landmark cases such as Swan v. Charlotte-Mecklenburg, which advanced school desegregation nationwide. His advocacy extended to challenging racial bias in death penalty cases, defending the Wilmington Ten, and working for justice in South Africa.

Mr. Ferguson passed away on July 21 in Charlotte at the age of 82, where he and his late wife, Barbara Turman Ferguson—also an ASCORE member—raised their family. He died from complications of Covid-19 and pneumonia.

“So, we wanted to be a part of desegregating lunch counters just as college students were doing that in the college towns. Well, in Asheville, we didn’t have a black college, so we organized ourselves to do sit-ins and demonstrations, to do whatever we needed to do to integrate or desegregate the lunch counters in Asheville.”

—James E. Ferguson II

James Ferguson Leadership Scholarship Fund

The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Association of Asheville & Buncombe County has established the James Ferguson Leadership Scholarship Fund in his memory to support and inspire the next generation of young leaders.

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James E. Ferguson Day

Friday, October 10, 2025 is James E. Ferguson II Day in the City of Asheville.

James E Ferguson II Day

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Governor Josh Stein

“Fergie was a fierce voice of conscience and a powerful  advocate for people across North Carolina and beyond.”

Governor Josh Stein Letter

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Memorial Service Program

James E Ferguson Memorial Program

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