Ownership Over Access: Several Key Takeaways From The Greensboro Business League Executive Round Table

By Jheri Hardaway Staff Writer Greensboro, NC - "The civil rights movement won the right to sit at this lunch counter, but the challenge of the 21st century is ownership of the lunch counter." This striking sentiment captured the foundational theme of the Greensboro Business League's (GBL) Executive Round Table, hosted on Tuesday, June 23, at the stunning Center for Creative Leadership. Co-hosted by Gerry McCants, Co-Founder, and Earl Jones,

57th Annual Lumbee Homecoming Celebrates Heritage, Family And A Historic New Chapter

By Judaea Ingram Special To The Carolinian PEMBROKE, N.C. - Thousands of Lumbee citizens and visitors from across North Carolina and beyond are returning to Pembroke this week as the 57th Annual Lumbee Homecoming transforms the community into a celebration of Native American heritage, family traditions and cultural pride. Running from June 26 through July 4, the nine-day celebration is recognized as one of the largest and most anticipated Native

An N.C. General Assembly Veto Axes Historically Underutilized Businesses

  By Jheri Hardaway Staff Writer Raleigh, NC - The Historically Underutilized Businesses (HUB) program works to increase the number and types of businesses competing for state contracts, helping the government get the best value for taxpayer dollars. The HUB Office was originally established by law during the 2001 Legislative Session to educate and encourage women-owned and minority-owned businesses on how to compete for contracts with state and local government

The Often Overlooked Contributions Of Many Black Revolutionary War Patriots That Helped Shape America

By Jordan Meadows Staff Writer Before the American Revolution, numerous freed African Americans supported the anti-British cause. One of the most notable figures was Crispus Attucks, a multiracial sailor who had escaped slavery and is believed to be the first person killed in the Boston Massacre in 1770. Both free and enslaved Black Americans also served in local militias, particularly in the North, defending their communities against Native American attacks.

Proposed ban on amplified music outside NC polling places draws criticism

NC NEWSLINE - A proposal by the N.C. Board of Elections to ban amplified sound outside polling places is aimed at discouraging voting by Black and young voters, critics said Monday. When the state board debated the proposed rule in April, members did not mention any specific complaints about music or bullhorns outside polling places. No one spoke in favor of the rule Monday. Written comments on proposed rules will

Protecting Democracy: Rep. Rodney Pierce Proposes Constitutional Amendment to Guard Early Voting

By Jheri Hardaway Staff Writer Raleigh, NC - In an effort to shield the state's electoral process from constant partisan shifting, State Representative Rodney Pierce (D-Halifax, Northampton, Warren) hosted a press conference to introduce House Bill 1240, a landmark legislation proposing a constitutional amendment to permanently guarantee North Carolinians the right to vote early in person. The bill, primarily sponsored by Pierce alongside Representatives Marcia Morey (D-Durham), Renee Price (D-Caswell,

‘Colored Confederates’: The Debate On Black Participation in the Civil War South

By Jordan Meadows Staff Writer The question of whether African Americans served as soldiers in the Confederate military remains a controversial topic in Civil War history, dividing historians, archivists, and heritage activists, despite most institutions concluding the idea a myth at worst and a misunderstanding at best. North Carolina historian and museum curator Earl Ijames has spent years researching and speaking on what he describes as "Colored Confederates," a term

Collective Impact Conference Highlights Collaboration, Community Awareness in Fight Against Human Trafficking

By Dominique Heath Columnist BUIES CREEK - Before the first presentation began, attendees filled Campbell University's student union hall exchanging business cards, introducing themselves to different organizations and discussing how they could better serve survivors in their own communities. It was a fitting start for the North Carolina Coalition Against Human Trafficking's (NCCAHT) 2026 Collective Impact Conference, where law enforcement officers, educators, survivor advocates, nonprofit leaders and service providers gathered

Confederate flag image at NC’s Great American State Fair stand sparks backlash

NC NEWSLINE - Visitors hoping to celebrate North Carolina's history at the Great American State Fair last week were instead met with an ugly reminder of its darkest chapter: an image of North Carolina's state flag altered to include the emblems of the Confederate battle flag. The flag, first reported by Spectrum News and seen in posts on social media, was shown on a large video screen in immediate view

How America Has Celebrated Milestone Birthdays

WASHINGTON (AP) - One of the stars of the American firmament once advised citizens of all stripes how to express their love of country. Mark Twain's long-ago words capture how Americans are stepping out this week to wish their nation a happy milestone birthday. "Our patriotism is medieval, outworn, obsolete," Twain wrote in 1905. "The modern patriotism, the true patriotism, the only rational patriotism, is loyalty to the Nation all