Stories tagged: "civil rights"


Sunset over Lumberton. Lumberton, part of Robeson County, is one of many towns caught up waiting for the state to fix long-standing education funding issues exposed in the Leandro lawsuit. (Shutterstock)
Eastern NC schools wait for justice in 30-year-old education funding lawsuit

For nearly three decades, families in underserved communities in eastern NC have been asking the state to fix their chronically underfunded schools. They talked to us about keeping the faith.

"The Andy Griffith Show," which fictionalized a NC town called Mayberry, was broadcast 63 years ago this week. (Image via NC Department of Culture and Natural Resources)
It’s Ok To Feel Conflicted About ‘The Andy Griffith Show.’ I Know I Do.

Andy Griffith’s depiction of a rural NC town is immortal. But the show—which premiered 63 years ago this week—only tells one part of the story.

The Museum of the Cherokee Indian in Cherokee, N.C., is one of our picks for spots to learn our state's history. (Shutterstock)
Ocean Graveyards, the Cherokee, and the Sit-Ins: 10 Unique Places to Learn About NC History

A museum will give you the big picture. But if you want to go deeper, these highly-curated spots will help you see a more up-close history of our state. 

Photo via Sen. Lisa Grafstein / Graphic by Desiree Tapia for Cardinal & Pine
Meet Your New North Carolina Lawmakers: State Sen. Lisa Grafstein of Raleigh

Democrat Lisa Grafstein was elected to the state Senate in November following a long career as a civil rights attorney. During her career, Grafstein focused on fighting for the rights and freedoms of those living with disabilities.

Bennett College team, Greensboro, North Carolina, 1934. Ruth Glover is third from left. (Courtesy of the Greensboro Historical Museum.)
The Night the Sports World Revolved Around Two Black Women’s Basketball Teams in Greensboro

A new podcast is reviving interest in the Jim Crow era of women’s sports, including a 1934 matchup between NC’s Bennett College and the best Black women’s team in the nation. 

George White had an astounding political career, beginning in 1881 with his election from Craven to serve in the North Carolina House of Representatives. In 1885 he served in the State Senate. In 1896 White moved to Tarboro and launched a successful bid for a national seat. Voters in what was called the “Black Second” Congressional District, had already sent three African Americans to Congress. White was elected twice, and was the last remaining Black US Congressman when he introduced the first antilynching bill in 1900.
This NC Lawmaker Called for an Antilynching Law 100 Years Ago. This Week, We Got One.

The US will finally make lynching a federal crime, after more than a century of attempts. C&P looks at the long road to justice. It only took 122 years to declare lynching a federal hate crime, after a long-sought bill passed Congress this week.  The Emmett Till Antilynching Act passed the US House with three...

DeWitt Powell, Jones Lake's longtime park superintendent, vigilantly guarded the atmosphere of peace and dignity of the park. No litter or profanity was permitted, and Black families could camp, hike, fish, swim or just relax on the lake's shores. Powell, who held his post for decades,  established that atmosphere in the Jim Crow era, against the odds in rural Bladen County.
How the ‘MLK of Jones Lake’ Made This NC Park an Island of Equality

Jones Lake State Park, North Carolina’s first to admit Black visitors, was a place guests could breathe freely, thanks to its first Black park superintendent.