Author: Jheri Hardaway

Jheri Hardaway is a staff writer for The Carolinian whose reporting explores the intersection of activism, politics, and community life across North Carolina. Drawing on her own experience and history in political organizing and civic engagement, Hardaway focuses on political coverage that highlights grassroots movements, public policy, and the voices of communities often overlooked in traditional media. Through thoughtful storytelling and analysis, she brings attention to the people and issues shaping the region’s political and social landscape.

Black History Highlight: The Everlasting Words of Phillis Wheatley

February 19, 2026February 18, 20260

By Jheri Hardaway Staff Writer No more, America, in mournful strain Of wrongs, and grievance unredress'd complain, No longer shalt thou dread the iron chain, Which wanton Tyranny with lawless hand Had made, and with it meant t'enslave the land. Should you, my lord, while you peruse my song, Wonder from whence my love of Freedom sprung, Whence flow these wishes for the common good, By feeling hearts alone best

Black History Spotlight: William and Ellen Craft

February 17, 2026February 11, 20260

By Jheri Hardaway Staff Writer William and Ellen Craft's story truly inspires my relentless ambitions. I tell her story to anyone who will listen. Like Ellen and William, I feel determined to find a way even though the path is hazy or, like Langston Hughes says, "Life for me ain't been no crystal stair. It's had tacks in it, and splinters, and boards torn up, and places with no carpet

Citizen Spotlight: In Conversation with Congressman Edolphus Townes

February 14, 2026February 11, 20260

By Jheri Hardaway Staff Writer In the annals of North Carolina A&T State University history, certain names are etched in stone. But for former U.S. Congressman Edolphus "Ed" Townes, those names-Bluford, Gibbs, Harrison-aren't just buildings; they are the backdrop of a radical political awakening. I sat down with the Congressman to discuss his journey from Chadbourn, NC, to the halls of power in Washington D.C., and the pivotal, sometimes heart-stopping

Stormie Forte, Representing the Heart of Raleigh

February 14, 2026February 11, 20260

By Jheri Hardaway Staff Writer Raleigh, NC - In the latest installment of our Citizen Spotlight, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Council Member Stormie Forte. Council Member Forte is a licensed attorney in the State of North Carolina and in the Eastern, Middle, and Western Districts of North Carolina Federal Court. She is also a licensed Real Estate agent. Forte was elected as one of two at-large

Harnett County: 4th Annual Civil Rights Stories

February 13, 2026February 11, 20260

By Jheri Hardaway Staff Writer Lillington, NC - The atmosphere inside the county Resource Center was one of reverence and resilience as the Harnett County NAACP and the Harnett County Democratic Party convened for the 4th Annual Civil Rights Stories event. The program, which has become a cornerstone for preserving local history, honored five distinguished residents whose lives bridge the gap between the Jim Crow South and the ongoing fight

NC Officials Testify, Debate Crime and Safety After Charlotte Stabbings

February 12, 2026February 11, 20260

By: Jordan Meadows Staff Writer The fatal stabbing of a Ukrainian refugee on Charlotte's light-rail system last summer continues to reverberate through North Carolina politics. The killing of 23-year-old Iryna Zarutska in August, followed by a non-fatal stabbing on the same transit line in December, has become a focal point for Republican criticism of Democratic leadership in Charlotte and statewide, particularly around criminal justice and mental health policy. On Monday,

State Treasurer Announces Early Availability of Tax Documentation for 397,584 Retirees

January 30, 2026January 28, 20260

By Jheri Hardaway Staff Writer Raleigh, NC - The North Carolina Retirement Systems (NCRS) has released 397,584 electronic 1099R and W2 tax documents for retirees and benefit recipients well ahead of the statutory Jan. 31 deadline. The early availability is due to enhanced efficiencies within the Retirement Systems Division, which enabled NCRS to load nearly 400,000 documents shortly after the holiday weekend. "A top priority for our department is making

New Neighbors: U.S. Army Western Hemisphere Command

January 29, 2026January 28, 20260

By Jheri Hardaway Staff Writer Fayetteville, NC - As reported by CNN in December, the US Army officially stood up a new command on Friday to oversee the Army's activities in the Western Hemisphere in the latest signal of increasing focus on homeland defense. The new command, called Army Western Hemisphere Command, will combine US Army Forces Command, US Army North, and US Army South into one organization, based

Citizen Spotlight: Reverend John A. McKoy, A Witness to History

January 27, 2026January 21, 20260

By Jheri Hardaway Staff Writer Reverend John A. McKoy is working to strengthen the bridge between history and the next generation. In a room filled with the energy of both the elders who paved the way and the youth who carry the future, one voice stood out at the Dunn, NC, Martin Luther King Jr birthday celebration, a voice that echoes with 78 years of wisdom, 62 years of activism,

Harnett County NAACP Celebrates Dr. King With The Chemistry of Courage: Dr. Ben Chavis on “Melting the Ice”

January 22, 2026January 21, 20260

By Jheri Hardaway Staff Writer Dunn, NC - In a room where history and hope sat side-by-side, Dr. Benjamin Chavis didn't just give a speech; he delivered a roadmap for the modern movement. Standing before a crowd in Dunn, NC the man who once wore the "black on black" uniform of 1960s militancy spoke with the seasoned grace of a minister, a scientist, and a survivor of one of North