Author: Jordan Meadows

By Jordan Meadows Staff Writer  Long before the Civil Rights Movement reshaped the American legal and cultural landscape, four pioneering African American athletes shattered the NFL's color barrier in 1946. This moment occurred a full year before Jackie Robinson broke into Major League Baseball, yet their names remain far less recognized in the national memory. The National Football League had briefly seen African American players in its early years, most

By: Jordan Meadows Staff Writer  In October 2023, a five-member team of higher education professionals arrived at St. Augustine University (SAU) on behalf of its accreditor-the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACS)-to evaluate the university's finances and leadership. Their findings: the university faced "dire and fundamental financial challenges," and its board of trustees lacked even the most basic systems for risk evaluation and fiscal oversight. The

[caption id="attachment_11647" align="alignnone" width="1170"] North Carolina A&T State University | NC A&T[/caption] By Jordan Meadows Staff Writer Former President Donald Trump signed an executive order establishing the White House Initiative to Promote Excellence and Innovation at HBCUs. While not the first executive action of its kind-every president since Jimmy Carter has issued HBCU-related orders-Trump's new directive arrives as Harvard University sued the Trump administration after it froze $2.3bn in federal

By Jordan Meadows  Staff Writer North Carolina's 2024 Supreme Court race has morphed into a sprawling legal and constitutional battle that now spans state and federal courts. On Tuesday, a three-judge panel from the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals issued a 2-1 ruling blocking North Carolina from launching its planned ballot-curing process. This halt immediately affected roughly 1,400 military, overseas, and "Never Resident" voters whose ballots remain in legal

By Jordan Meadows Staff Writer Joseph Philippe Lemercier Laroche, a 25-year-old Haitian engineer, was the only known Black passenger, along with his children, aboard the ill-fated Titanic. His story, buried for decades beneath the weight of history, has recently re-emerged. Born on May 26, 1886, in Cap-Haïtien, Haiti, Joseph Laroche was a gifted student. At just 15 years old, he was sent to Beauvais, France, to pursue a formal education

By Jordan Meadows Staff Writer The 19th Annual NC Black Summit was held last Thursday and Friday at the Raleigh Marriott Crabtree, bringing together Black elected officials, public policy advocates, community stakeholders, strategic partners, and constituents from across the state. Under the theme Charting OUR Course Through a Crisis, the sold-out event served as a vital gathering point for Black leadership to navigate the post-election climate, address pressing community concerns,

By Jordan Meadows Staff Writer For nearly two decades, the North Carolina Innocence Inquiry Commission has been consequential in finding justice in the state - and a national model for reform. Created by the General Assembly in 2006 and formally established in 2007, the commission has reviewed thousands of claims of wrongful conviction and played a critical role in the exoneration of 16 individuals who collectively served more than 300

By: Jordan Meadows Staff Writer In Part 1 of the series, we explored the historical context of the cover-up culture within law enforcement in North Carolina and the Triangle area, with insights from Dr. Kimberly D. Muktarian-a Raleigh native, journalist, historian, and civil rights activist. In Part 2, we examined several examples of this troubling culture in law enforcement, where Dr. Kim shared her personal encounters with officers and discussed

By Jordan Meadows Staff Writer On Thursday evening, community members gathered in downtown Durham for a panel discussion hosted by the Carolina Forward Foundation, a non-profit policy organization focused on shaping North Carolina's future. Titled "Abundance" the event brought together journalist and author Derek Thompson, Raleigh Mayor Janet Cowell, and Durham Mayor Leo Williams. Carolina Forward founder Blair Reeves moderated the discussion, which explored how cities and states can embrace

By: Jordan Meadows Staff Writer In a tribute to the history and legacy of historically Black fraternities and sororities, several universities across the nation have recently unveiled permanent installations that honor the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) and its member organizations. These commemorations acknowledge the profound impact of the "Divine Nine" on campus communities, from leadership and civic engagement to academic excellence. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill celebrated