Saluting Black Excellence
On Wednesday, March 4, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the campus of Johnson C. Smith University will transform Brayboy Gymnasium into a powerhouse hub of wellness, opportunity, and community connection. From free HIV testing and blood pressure screenings to free massages and haircuts courtesy of No Grease Barber Shop, this is more than […]
Frederick McKinley Jones (1893–1961) was a pioneering African American inventor, mechanical engineer, and entrepreneur whose innovations permanently transformed the transportation industry. Largely self-taught, Jones demonstrated an early aptitude for mechanics and electrical systems, building and repairing devices long before receiving any formal technical training. His ingenuity and persistence eventually led to one of the most […]
Thomas Stewart was a 19th-century American inventor best known for improving the mop. Born in 1823, Stewart was an African American craftsman who lived and worked in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Stewart received a U.S. patent for an enhanced mop design that made cleaning floors more sanitary and efficient. His invention featured a clamping mechanism that allowed […]
As we celebrate Black History Month, 105.3 RNB is shining a spotlight on local history makers from the Carolinas by Saluting Black Excellence. We are honoring people whose vision, courage, and excellence either shaped or continue to shape our communities. Brought to you in part by Carolina Cares Partnership. DR. KIZZMEKIA CORBETT-HELAIRE Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett-Helaire, […]
February is Black History Month and all month long; we are Saluting Charlotte’s Black Excellence! We will honor and recognize some of the many people who are mentoring, inspiring, and paving the way for others, right here in Charlotte and the surrounding area. We recognize their contributions and accomplishments from music to business, activism to […]
This week we celebrate Black History Month by Saluting Charlotte’s Black Excellence – Sparkles Farrar-Gordon, is a Sergeant with the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office. She is a Charlotte native and Alumni of West Charlotte High School. Sgt. Farrar-Gordon graduated from Montreat College where she was Cum Laude with a bachelor’s degree in business. She has […]
This week we celebrate Black History Month by Saluting Charlotte’s Black Excellence – Ryan Henderson is the 2023 North Carolina Charter School Teacher of the Year, teaching journalism and broadcasting at Sugar Creek Charter School. He is known as a problem solver and innovator by his peers and students. Henderson began his education career, 12 […]
This week we celebrate Black History Month by Saluting Charlotte’s Black Excellence – Jonathan and Crystal Nazeer are the Co-Founders of Victory Gardens International, a Rock Hill, SC based 501(c)3 organization whose mission is to spearhead community redevelopment through urban farming, food production, food access and job creation in low-wealth communities. With a passion for […]
This week we celebrate Black History Month by Saluting Charlotte’s Black Excellence – North Carolina State Representative Diamond Staton-Williams. In November 2022, she was elected to serve North Carolina House District 73, making her the first African American woman to serve Cabarrus County at the state level. A native of the Charlotte/Concord area, she was […]