Raleigh’s Helping Hand: A Pillar of Hope and Inclusion in North Carolina

By: Jordan Meadows Staff Writer Settled along Rock Quarry Road, a modest yet surprisingly spacious building is surrounded by old televisions, washing machines, children's clothes and toys, and cans of food-an image that perfectly captures the essence of Helping Hand Mission in Raleigh, an organization dedicated to supporting everyday people in need. There's a constant commotion of people coming in and out, carrying goods for those in need, while the

This Is Why Quincy Jones Belongs in US Music Education

[caption id="attachment_10452" align="alignnone" width="750"] Photo: Gai Terrell/Redferns/Getty[/caption] The Conversation - Quincy Jones, who died on Nov. 3, 2024, at the age of 91, was one of the most influential musicians in U.S. history. You might think such a notable figure would factor prominently in American music classrooms. Yet my research shows that Jones, who was Black, is rarely mentioned in mainstream U.S. music curricula. As a Black music professor, I

Durham Mourns the Loss of Dr. E. Lavonia Allison

    By: Jordan Meadows Staff Writer Dr. E. Lavonia Ingram Allison, a towering figure in Durham's civil rights movement, passed away at the age of 94 on January 7, 2025. Known for her boldness and deep sense of justice, Dr. Allison spent over five decades fighting for social change, empowerment, and equal opportunities, particularly for marginalized communities. Born and raised in Durham's Hayti community, Dr. Allison experienced the harsh

Government Website On Reproductive Rights Is No Longer Online

Notice: ReproductiveRights.gov Appears to Be Offline The government website ReproductiveRights.gov, which provided crucial information about abortion access, reproductive health care, and patients' rights, is currently inaccessible. The site, launched in 2022 by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, was designed to support public awareness about reproductive rights and services. It offered details on topics such as insurance coverage for birth control, prenatal care, and FDA-approved medication abortion options.

Minimum Wages Are Increasing In Nearly Half The States

  Stateline-The minimum wage will increase in nearly half the states this year even as the federal wage floor remains stuck at $7.25 per hour. In many states, the minimum wage is automatically adjusted upward as inflation rises. But voters in several states, including deeply red ones such as Alaska and Missouri, chose in November to significantly increase their minimum wages this year. Michigan will see its minimum wage jump

Stylists, Barbers Crucial to Black Health Initiative

NCHealthNews - Charlotte Sparks likes to get her hair done at Empire Beauty School. It gives students a chance to practice what they're learning, the 84-year-old Greensboro resident said. On the weekend before Christmas, the school's beauty salon also offered clients a chance to learn. The school was one of six sites in the South to take part in the Black Beauty & Barbershop Health Initiative. The program is a

American Individualism vs. We The People

  By: Ms Jheri Worldwide Staff Writer Growing up in North Carolina, I was taught and strongly encouraged to appreciate the beauty around us. From the vibrant wildflowers lining our highways to the kaleidoscope of colors as leaves changed each fall. We spent countless hours outdoors, running, playing, and simply absorbing the natural splendor of our state. Littering was a rare offense, a shocking anomaly. I vividly remember a friend,

Meet The Women In NC’s New Legislature

By Jordan Meadows  Staff Writer Women in state legislatures across the United States have made notable progress, both in terms of the number of women holding office and the influence they wield. But North Carolina's state government still lags behind the national average in female representation. Post-2024 election, women make up 30 percent of North Carolina's General Assembly, with 51 women serving out of 170 members. While this marks a

How Giovanni’s Black American Consciousness Changed The World

The Guardian-"We are the culture bearers of planet Earth," Nikki Giovanni said in 1978 on American Black Journal, a Detroit TV program. Viewers watched the young poet, then just 36, establishing herself as part of Black American literary royalty in real time. She fielded a series of somewhat maudlin questions about creativity, Black identity, gender and politics with aplomb, her answers demonstrating her nascent wisdom and embrace of her role

In Duke MLK address, prosecutor in George Floyd case champions America’s ‘strength in inclusion’

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="1536"] Judge Jerry Blackwell urged congregants not to give up hope amid America's time of anxiety and fear, and instead shine their lights to overcome it. (Photo: screengrab from service livestream.)[/caption] Judge Jerry Blackwell, a Minnesota district court judge who helped prosecute Derek Chauvin for the 2020 murder of George Floyd, urged attendees of Sunday's Martin Luther King Jr. service at Duke University to "retake your place