Upon arriving in North Carolina from Detroit, Michigan as a high school freshman, Payton attended Jay M. Robinson High School in Concord, NC and quickly got adjusted to her new surroundings by participating in both theater and student government. As she saw the minority population increase from 5% to close to 15% during her 4 […]

Tyler Clark is a Charlotte native who is making strides at the young age of 23. Clark began her academic career here in Charlotte, where she excelled at North Mecklenburg High School and became the first African American female drum major. She eventually took her talents to North Carolina Central University where she double majored […]

  For Black History Month, we will spotlight some of the greatest athletes in Historically Black College and University History. Today we spotlight a player who flew under the radar but eventually became “The Hawk.” Andre Dawson was born in Miami, Florida where he played high school Baseball and Football. A knee injury during his […]

McCray was elected as an at-large member of the Board of Education in 2011. A native of High Point, NC, she worked in education for 34 years, 24 of them in CMS, before retiring in July 2011. She holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from North Carolina A&T State University. She moved to Charlotte after graduation and […]

  Esper G. Hayes is the founder of the Ebony Society of Philatelic Events and Reflections, an international stamp society, which promotes stamp collecting philatelic material depicting people/events related to the African Diaspora. Ms.Hayes started the club based on a promise she made to the great Olympian, Jesse Owens after meeting him at a stamp […]

Joan Higginbotham was born in Chicago, IL, and enjoys motivational speaking, working out, and a variety of music genres. She received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale (SIU-C), a Master of Science Degree in Management from the Florida Institute of Technology (FIT), a Master of Science Degree […]

At just 17 years old, Dennis Reed was compelled to create an organization that serves as a creative outlet area youth and young adults to inspire them to reach for more in life. Inspire the Fire Inc. is a non-profit organization that coaches students in artistic development, life skills, and community engagement. ITF was selected […]

Shaun “Lucky” Corbett is the passionate owner of Lucky Spot Barbershop, located in Charlotte N.C. Shaun’s passion for hair emerged when he was 13 and continues to drive his dedication for precision cutting and personalized customer service to any client that he services. Shaun has worked diligently to build a brand that creates a culture […]

Demario Baker is a native of Charlotte, NC and the Founder of Nspire-Us Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to mentoring and educating youth regarding public health awareness, healthier living, self-esteem, and positive lifestyle choices through educational workshops and athletic programs. His passion for mentoring and philanthropy developed at a young age when he began participating […]

Dana Sidberry is from Charlotte, N.C. graduating from Myers Park High School and furthering her education by obtaining a Bachelors of Business Degree at Strayer University. Ms. Sidberry comes from a family of entrepreneurs and was always taught to be loyal, humble, treat people right, to help others and the value of hard work, ownership, […]

Joseph Charles Jones was a student at Johnson C. Smith University in 1960 and led many sit-in protests a lunch counters in Charlotte until the city center began to desegregate. He voluntarily went to jail in South Carolina in support of the Rock Hill Nine, a group of African American men that staged a sit-in […]

For Black History Month, WOL News Talk 1450 AM, WYCB My Spirit 1340 and Praise 104.1 will be taking a look at golfers who came before Tiger Woods and the struggles to play the game in a segregated society. Today we talk to James “Jimmy” Garvin, Golf Course Owner & Hall of Famer. Garvin is […]