The Legacy of Bob Sheldon and Internationalist Books in Chapel Hill
In the bustling campus of UNC Chapel Hill, amidst the chaos of the Pit, one figure stood out among the rest – Bob Sheldon. Clad in his distinctive black beret and leather jacket, Sheldon was a familiar sight distributing radical literature and anarchist zines outside Lenoir Dining Hall. His passion for engaging in conversations about anti-racism, organized labor, and geopolitics set him apart from the Pit preachers who brandished Bibles and lectured about eternal damnation.
Dunn, who first met Sheldon in the Pit, described him as a steadfast individual on a mission to stimulate open intellectual debates on campus. Despite the contentious discussions that often took place, Sheldon remained calm and composed, influencing those who listened to him. Dunn even went as far as to say that people learned as much from Bob as they did in any class on campus.
Sheldon’s impact extended beyond the campus grounds. Andrea Eisen, a social worker who frequented the Internationalist bookstore, described Sheldon’s extraordinary charisma and openness to dialogue as the reasons she was drawn to the shop. After Sheldon’s tragic murder, his family handed over the bookstore to a board of volunteers, and the Internationalist became a hub for progressive ideas and activism in the community.
The bookstore’s longevity was a testament to its lasting resonance and support in the community. Volunteers like Eisen organized events and vigils to commemorate Sheldon’s legacy, keeping his dream alive even after his passing. The Internationalist’s lending library and charter buses to national protests in Washington, D.C., further solidified its role as a pillar of activism and education in Chapel Hill.
One of the literature publishers that supplied the Internationalist was CrimethInc, an anarchist network producing revolutionary texts. B. Traven from CrimethInc highlighted the importance of the bookstore in connecting literature about ideas and current events to social ties that inspired action. The bookstore served as a platform for books and periodicals that engaged with international politics, queer theory, feminism, and anti-racism.
Emil Amos, a music journalist who grew up in Chapel Hill, viewed Bob Sheldon as a spiritual guiding post for the countercultural movement of the late ’80s. Underground musicians saw Sheldon as symbolic of oppression in America, with renowned bassist Mike Watt even acknowledging Sheldon’s influence during a performance at Cat’s Cradle.
The circumstances surrounding Sheldon’s death sparked theories of a possible connection between his anti-war activism and CIA surveillance. Some speculated that his resistance to right-wing politics and Ku Klux Klan activities in North Carolina could have led to his tragic end. Despite the uncertainties surrounding his death, Sheldon’s legacy lived on through the Internationalist bookstore and the progressive political current that has always been present in Chapel Hill.
For Dunn, the story of Internationalist Books and its founder symbolized a beautiful Chapel Hill tradition of keeping the bookstore alive to honor Sheldon’s dream. The efforts to preserve his legacy and continue his mission of promoting open dialogue and activism serve as a reminder of the impact one individual can have on a community.
As the Internationalist bookstore closed its doors in 2016 due to financial difficulties, the memories of Bob Sheldon and the bookstore’s contributions to Chapel Hill’s progressive spirit remain ingrained in the hearts of those who were touched by his passion for social change and intellectual discourse.