RALEIGH -- In recognition of Black History Month, the With All Our Rights program was held Saturday at the State Capitol building.

The program featured re-enactors representing three of the first 15 African-American’s elected to the convention in North Carolina.

The program aimed to inform and celebrate emancipation and African-American’s participation in the legislative and democratic processes.

"I think it's very important for young people to understand the importance of history...to understand the sacrifices made for everybody, you know all Americans who put their hands on the plow to make this great country and this great state what it is today. I think it’s so vital that young people understand history and the significance of what African-Americans contributed to our society and America,” said Phillip Bernard-Smith, a re-enactor.

During the program the re-enactors discussed legislation based on documents from the reconstruction period.

The event also had North Carolina’s copy of the 13th Amendment that ended slavery on display.