Are You For Me or Against Me?

This chapter discusses Shepard’s role as chair of the Negro Republican Party in the state of North Carolina. Such a position for an African American college president during this time could have easily been the death blow to either his career or his school. However, for Shepard this move appeared to create more allies from within both the black and white communities. While serving as chair of the Negro Republican Party, Shepard maintained alliances and friendships with liberal white southerners who were now turning to the Democratic Party for leadership. This phenomenon is best illustrated in his relationship with Frank Porter Graham (president of University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Democratic Senator from North Carolina).