The Montgomerys of Mississippi: How A Once Enslaved Family Bought The Jefferson Davis’ Plantation House After the Civil War

By: Neely Tucker Library of Congress On the pleasant winter day of Jan. 17, 1872, Mary Virginia Montgomery, the precocious 21-year-old daughter of one of Mississippi's largest cotton planters, used her diary to record the day's activities on Brierfield, the family's sprawling cotton plantation south of Vicksburg. "Brierfield is so beautiful this morning," she wrote in her careful penmanship. "… I spent fully two hours practicing [piano] after dinner. …

Cost Barriers To Healthcare Are Increasing Despite ACA

By Dr. Joynicole Martinez Special To The Carolinian The numbers don't lie. While healthcare costs have tripled since 2005, Black and brown people are paying an even steeper price-literally. If you've ever felt like the healthcare system wasn't built for people who look like you, you're not imagining things. The data proves what our communities have known for generations: we're paying more, getting less, and struggling harder to access quality

Public School Enrollment Continues To Fall, Middle & Elementary Most

NC Newsline-Across the country, public school enrollment has failed to rebound to pre-pandemic levels - and data suggests the decline is far from over. According to projections from the National Center for Education Statistics, public K-12 enrollment peaked at 50.8 million students in autumn 2019, but is expected to fall by nearly 4 million students to 46.9 million by 2031, a 7.6% nationwide drop. The steepest enrollment losses are in

NC’s Racial Gerrymandering Trial Ends With Dueling Testimony

NC Newsline -The latest federal trial over claims that North Carolina's election district plans dilute Black voting power in violation of federal law concluded Wednesday with competing expert testimony. Lawyers for civil rights groups and voters told a panel of three judges that they'd proven their points, while a lawyer for Republican legislators argued that election lines were drawn for partisan reasons to advantage GOP candidates. "It doesn't make sense

Fights Over Charters Loom Over NASCAR As Teams Await Rulings

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) - It's the summer to sue in NASCAR, the sport where the on-track bumping and banging is in danger of being overshadowed by the action in the courtroom. Two teams -- one owned by retired NBA great Michael Jordan -- are suing NASCAR over antitrust allegations. 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports are awaiting a federal court ruling before Sunday's race in Delaware that could impact their

44th J.W. Ligon Jr., Sr. High School Alumni Reunion Held

By Karl Cameron Special To The Carolinian The 44th J.W. Ligon Jr., Sr. High School Alumni Reunion was held Saturday at the John Chavis Memorial Park in Raleigh N.C. Hundreds of alumni came out for the occasion, which had a theme of: "Preserving Our Legacy." The program for the occasion featured presenters who spoke to the rich legacy of Ligon Alumni. Pastor Gwendolyn Horton opened the program with the Invocation

Citizen Spotlight: From Coastal Kitchens to Community Gardens, Justin’s Journey of Cultivating Connection

By Ms Jheri Worldwide Staff Writer Justin Walker, a dynamic community leader and farmer, recently shared his remarkable journey, one deeply rooted in the power of food, community, and an unwavering commitment to cultivating positive change. His path, winding from the seafood houses of coastal North Carolina to the fertile ground of community building in Durham, illustrates a life dedicated to understanding and addressing the needs of others. Justin's connection

Gemynii Is Bringing The Joy To Durham’s Dance Floors

  By Brian Burns WUNC Before moving to Durham in 2011, Gemynii never imagined she'd become a party DJ. She spent her childhood recording music off of the radio, and was a college DJ at her alma mater Elizabeth City State University. It wasn't until she started throwing house parties that caught the attention of her mentor DJ PlayPlay that she started to take the craft more seriously. "During that

How To Donate School Supplies for Triangle area public schools

[caption id="attachment_12706" align="alignnone" width="1760"] Liz Schlemmer / WUNC[/caption] WUNC - Inside a warehouse owned by Durham Public Schools, Eunice O'Neal Sanders and Euba McKoy lead volunteers sorting donations of pencils, crayons, paper, and art supplies. Newly hired teachers will soon browse the warehouse to take what they need to set up their classrooms for the upcoming school year. Nearly every teacher in the district receives supplies from the warehouse, often

NCCU ‘Durham 5’ Protestors Challenge Arrests In Court

By Jordan Meadows Staff Writer On April 16, 2025, students and community members gathered on the campus of North Carolina Central University (NCCU) to protest what they described as unlivable housing conditions, including mold, flooding, pests, and a lack of hot water in some dorms.  Organized by a student group known as the Panthers, the rally quickly grew in size and intensity, culminating in the arrests of five individuals now