Author: Jordan Meadows

By: Jordan Meadows Staff Writer Cornrows are a hairstyle that holds deep cultural significance within the Black community. The style, named after the agricultural fields, dates back centuries and carries rich ties to African traditions. But did cornrows also serve as a method of covert resistance, allowing slaves to communicate, gain freedom, and preserve their cultural identity? The precise role of cornrows in aiding escapes during slavery is debated. Cornrows

By: Jordan Meadows | Staff Writer When Sesame Street first graced television screens in 1969, it was far more than just another children's show. It was a groundbreaking educational program, with its innovative approach to teaching children through a combination of puppetry, live-action, and music, while also addressing deeper social issues of race, culture, and identity. Sesame Street had a specific mission: to address the educational deficits of underserved children,

By Jordan Meadows | Staff Writer The North Carolina Supreme Court election remains embroiled in a legal dispute as Republican candidate Jefferson Griffin challenges the validity of more than 65,000 ballots cast in the November 5 election. Griffin, who currently serves on the North Carolina Court of Appeals, is seeking to have these ballots thrown out, a move that could potentially flip the results of his race against the incumbent

By: Jordan Meadows | Staff Writer Dr. Marilyn Hughes Gaston, a pioneering physician, educator, and public health leader, dedicated her life to improving the healthcare of underserved communities, particularly minority and low-income families. Born in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1939, Gaston grew up in a familial environment that valued determination and a commitment to social equality. Dr. Gaston faced numerous obstacles as a young girl, including racial prejudice and economic hardship.

By: Jordan Meadows | Staff Writer The Black Alumni Experience Project at the University of North Carolina (UNC) School of Medicine provides an insightful collection of oral histories that illuminate the journeys of Black medical professionals. [caption id="attachment_10884" align="alignleft" width="271"] Dr. Lynous Hall[/caption] This project, initiated by the UNC chapter of the Student National Medical Association (SNMA), seeks to preserve and share the stories of Black alumni who have contributed

By: Jordan Meadows | Staff Writer The story of Martin Luther King Jr. is widely known, but the influences of the pioneers who came before him are still unfamiliar to many. The spirit of justice and activism that King Jr. embodied was not something he created on his own; it was passed down to him through generations of religious and civic leaders in his own family. MLK Jr.'s maternal side

By: Jordan Meadows, Staff Writer Chief Estella D. Patterson, the 30th police chief of Raleigh, is retiring on March 1st, marking the end of an impactful three-year tenure at the helm of the Raleigh Police Department (RPD). Patterson has served in law enforcement for nearly 30 years, including 25 years with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department before heading Raleigh’s in 2021.  “It’s bittersweet. I love Raleigh. We’ve done a lot here

By: Jordan Meadows, Staff Writer On Tuesday, East Raleigh saw a landmark event in its fight against homelessness and poverty with the grand opening of King's Ridge, a 100-unit affordable housing community spearheaded by CASA (Community Alternatives for Supportive Abodes), a nonprofit organization focused on ending homelessness in the Triangle region of North Carolina. The community, which has been years in the making, was designed not only to provide homes

[caption id="attachment_10620" align="alignnone" width="1024"] AUGUSTA, GEORGIA - OCTOBER 05: Jerry Beasley (L) and Michael Bolton help a neighbor remove a tree from their yard after it was knocked over as Hurricane Helene passed through the area on October 05, 2024 in Augusta, Georgia. The Hurricane has left over 200 people dead across Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)[/caption] By: Jordan Meadows, Staff Writer

By: Jordan Meadows, Staff Writer The 24th Annual African American Cultural Celebration kicked off the statewide observance of Black History Month in North Carolina this past Saturday in Raleigh. The event, held at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences - as the State History Museum is currently undergoing renovations - offered an immersive experience that celebrated the plentiful contributions of African Americans, both historical and contemporary, to the state's