If you Google “Durham news,” many of the articles that populate are related to crime, and many people consider crime when thinking about Durham. News about artists, small businesses and strides for public groups aren’t always at the forefront — but that’s what best describes the Durham community.

Durham’s crime rate is lower than the national average, and its violent crime rate is three times lower than Memphis, which is considered the most dangerous city. However, a quality that’s associated with Durham a lot is the presence of crime in the city, and when individuals solely focus on this, they overlook the multitude of other things that Durham has.

The arts scene in Durham is incredibly vibrant, appearing all throughout the city. Look no further than the sides of buildings, many of which are covered in murals related to public figures from the city, social movements or simply just artistic depictions, showing not only the talent of artists in Durham but the love that these individuals have of the city. Murals are multifaceted, but one of their many purposes is to show community pride, and that’s clear in many that are present across Durham.

Community pride is a common thread within other individuals in the city as well. 

Small businesses play a major role in defining the heart of Durham, and they cover the area of downtown. Though a number of small businesses have closed in recent years — including icons like Beyu Caffe and 321 Coffee — this year alone, over 30 small businesses have opened.

Small businesses also work to bolster community pride, and many owners share that same passion.

Earlier this year, I spoke with Dorian Bolden, owner of the former Beyu Caffe, and Adanna Omeni, current owner of 1 Blossom 2 Bloom, a floral shop at Boxyard RTP. Both of these individuals, who live in Durham and own businesses in the area, share that pride for the city that many do.

Bolden recognizes the culture and uniqueness that emanates from Durham and Omeni sees the light that her business can bring to the people of the city, small indicators of their love of the community.

These small businesses, in addition to the many others in the city, bring a vibe to Durham that can’t be recreated anywhere else. Much like Bolden said, they help supply that uniqueness.

This uniqueness also comes from something that runs through almost every aspect of Durham: its history.

This year I also had the opportunity to speak with individuals from the Pauli Murray Center for History and Social Justice, including Angela Thorpe, the Executive Director for the center.

Thorpe, and others at the Pauli Murray Center, not only care about uplifting and showcasing the legacy of Pauli Murray, a Durham icon of social rights activism, but also highlighting the many sides of Durham’s history and what it means to be a part of this city.

Places like the Pauli Murray Center exist all across Durham, including the Museum of Durham History and Bennett Place Historic Site — just two places that show the rich history of the city of Durham.

While many of these things might be obvious to Durham natives (the thriving art scene, passionate small businesses and abundant history), many who aren’t from the area still overlook these aspects of the city.

Durham is filled with people and places that bring it character and energy, and it’s important to not overlook these facts and solely focus on stereotypes, even while they can often dominate the news.

Crime doesn’t define Durham, and it shouldn’t. Rather, it’s the people who make the city what it is that do.