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Resurrecting black history

John Hope Franklin’s ‘From Slavery to Freedom’ stirs once again

As we come upon the one year anniversary of historian John Hope Franklin’s death, the recent release of the 9th edition of his epic book “From Slavery to Freedom: A History of African Americans” continues to fascinate scholars. Full story

Crawley gets life

Before Shannon Elizabeth Crawley was sentenced to life in prison, Denita Smith’s mother had a few words for the former Guilford County 911 operator. “I may forgive you, but right now, I don’t,” Sharon Smith said. “I hope you burn in hell. You are vile and you don’t deserve to be a mother.” Full story

Verdict brings mixed emotions for Smith's friends

Closure isn't exactly the right word with respect to Monday's guilty verdict for the woman charged with Denita Smith's murder, according to N.C. Central University assistant professor Bruce dePyssler. "Closure -- I've always had a hard time with that one," dePyssler said. "I don't think the loss gets undone."

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Crawley trial underway

It’s been just over three years since N.C. Central University student Denita Monique Smith was shot and killed outside her Campus Crossings apartment just after 8 a.m. on January 4, 2007. Full story

Put Out

Juniors, seniors scramble for off campus housing

For most juniors and seniors the bad news is just now beginning to sink in. It arrived in an October 29 memo from Jennifer Wilder, N.C. Central University’s director of Residential Life. It was titled: “2010-2011 Housing Outlook – Letter to Students and Family Members.” Full story

News from Beyond NCCU
NE Central Durham VOICE

Beyond NCCU

Americans' generosity toward Haiti is historic but may be fleeting

CHICAGO -- Far from the glitz of a star-studded charity telethon, an unemployed single mother of two has been putting in long days of work to help Haiti. Maria Pacheco, 42, has given food from her own pantry and sifts through donated clothes at a Little Village church.

'All the symbols of this country are gone,' Haitian widow laments

The young man slowly climbed the flagpole that still stood guard over the crumbled presidential palace, reaching up to snatch what was left of the flag, a dusty red and blue cloth.For Haitians, the red and blue ---or black and blue, depending on the presidency -- flying atop the National Palace has always been a source of pride, for better or for worse, dictatorship or democracy.

Police fight culture of 'no snitching'

Oct. 12--DURHAM -- Someone knows who fired more than 30 bullets into a Shannon Road apartment in Durham in July, while three adults and a 4-year-old girl slept inside.

Women pay more in current health insurance market

Women of child-bearing age routinely pay more for health care because they're women. If they're pregnant, they can be legally denied coverage. Women face other problems in today's insurance market:

Unemployment rate is highest in 26 years

The nation's unemployment rate ticked up to 9.8 percent in September, its highest level in 26 years, as employers hastened their pace of layoffs, the government reported Friday in a worse-than-expected jobs report that was sure to quash any notion that the economic downturn is over.

Two can't stop phoning while driving

LIKE FATHER, Like Daughter -- only more so. Tyler Strandberg of Rocky Mount has a hard time getting her mind off her BlackBerry when she drives. She has crashed three cars in the past three years.

Troubled waters (with video)

Studies show African-American youth drown at greater rates than whites

The statistics are as disturbing as they are stunning: Black children drown at rates almost three times the overall White rate and nearly 60 percent of Black children aged 6-15 years old are unable to swim, according to a May 2008 article in “USA Today.”

NECD News Stories

From the NE Central Durham VOICE

The news stories below are written by N.C. Central University students in Lisa Paulin’s advanced reporting course, and by Campus Echo staff reporters. The stories were first published with stories written by Jock Lauterer’s community journalism students at UNC-Chapel Hill.

VIDEO: Yesterday, today, tomorrow - A Look into NECD

Northeast Central Durham was once a prosperous textile and tobacco industrial zone, but today the area, located just east of downtown, faces some of the toughest challenges facing America’s cities: dilapidated housing, unemployment, crime, drugs, lack of economic development, and lack of health care.

Angier Avenue Baptist has a storied past

Stop a local at the corner of Angier Avenue and South Driver Street in Northeast Central Durham and ask about the large three story brick church on the corner. What you’ll find out is that it’s a“ mostly white” church that has been in the neighborhood “forever.” You’ll also find out that its pastor is a “good man.”

VIDEO: Welcome Baby prepares for the stork

For 20 years Welcome Baby has been in the business of creating happy families. Located at 721 Foster st. in Durham NC and funded by Durham's Partnership for Children, Welcome Baby has a number of programs including a car seat safety program and a free clothing closet. Welcome Baby also helps individuals link to outside community resources

Eastway Village: a gem of urban living

Nestled in the corner of Taylor Street and Alston Avenue sits a gem of urban Durham living: Eastway Village. Eastway Village, single family homes and condominiums, was built on the property of the former Few Gardens Housing Project.

TROSA: Making a difference in Durham since 1994

Whether you’ve lived in Durham your whole life or a recent transplant, the influences of TROSA (Triangle Residential options for Substance Abusers) are hard to miss.Established in 1994 by Kevin McDonald, TROSA has been impacting the lives of people in 80 counties across the state. Acceptance into TROSA is granted on one condition: you must have a strong desire to change your life.

Community crafting a vision for children

NECD community members might have felt like they were back at school last Thursday at the East Durham Children’s Initiative community meeting.Despite the socializing, smiles, food and beverages, attendees got down to business when organizers asked them to put their vision to paper.

Rocky Road is good only at the ice cream store

Many people might like the ice cream flavor named “rocky road,” but they might not enjoy driving on— or living on — that rocky road.“There are currently 20.97 miles of unpaved road in Durham, which the city maintains,” says Nathan McHenry, Engineering Services Supervisor at Public Works. Many streets like Kate Street and S. Briggs Avenue are a few of the 175 roads in Durham that have yet to be paved.

Acknowledgements, a little celebration too

As we launch this inaugural edition of the Northeast Central Durham Community VOICE, I need to thank a whole bunch of good souls who have made this moment possible:

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Consortium audit looms

A leaked memo has created a storm of controversy for N.C. Central University’s administration. The draft, obtained by the News and Observer, alleges that three University employees mishandled funds appropriated for closing the state’s achievement gap for minorities. Full story

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Family affairs, NCCU shares

Thinking of the “roaring 20s” conjures mental images of jazz legends like Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong. As the good times came to an end and the Great Depression loomed just around the corner, at the North Carolina College for Negroes, a family tradition was being born. The Williams’ clan boasts eleven NCCU alumni including aunts, cousins, and great-aunts. Full story

Stealth politics

During the Civil Rights movement, black leaders and white politicians faced a dilemma. How could they work together to overcome this country’s racial divide? Black leaders could be accused by others as “collaborating” with whites, and white politicians could see their careers ended by their often racist electorate.

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Sharing diversity

White students at NCCU discuss their HBCU experiences

Blacks are known as a minority to the mainstream population, but at N.C. Central University, they are the majority, and whites are the minority. And without even trying, they stand out.

Two decades of carpentry

Carpentry supervisor began working at NCCU in 1988

Colleagues, friends and family convened on Friday for a retirement celebration in honor of N.C. Central University maintenance mechanic and carpentry supervisor James Abdullah.

Abdullah started working at NCCU in 1988. Before coming to NCCU, he worked as a private contractor doing carpentry.

WNCU raises hope (and cash) for Haiti

The American Red Cross partnered with WNCU and Hearts For Haiti to raise not only awareness, but also much needed funds for Haiti relief effort Thursday. Long after Haiti has left the news, and the celebrity attention wanes, help will still be needed in Haiti.

NCCU talks Obama

With Presidents Day just behind us, the question must be asked: Are students still hopeful? Are Eagles still talking politics? What, if anything, has changed in a year? President Barack Obama was sworn in January 20, 2009. On Presidents Day 2009, his approval rating was 64 percent, according to Gallup polls.

54 years later, an Echo editor reflects

Shirley Temple James-Holliday pushed students, faculty to take activist stance

Shirley Temple James-Holliday, the 1956 editor of the Campus Echo newspaper, recently dusted off her memories of Chuck Berry, B. B. King and Billie Holiday to share with present-day Eagles.

Students petition assembly

UNC System students ask General Assembly to keep tuition funds on campus

If the N.C. General Assembly gets its way, the money raised from next fall’s systemwide tuition increase will not end up at UNC campuses. It will end up instead in North Carolina’s general fund. And that’s got students from all 16 UNC universities up in arms.

Quake hits home

Haiti has local ties to NCCU

Two first-generation Haitian Americans with ties to N.C. Central University are struggling to come to grips with the scope of the tragedy.

Get counted

Census 2010 around the corner

You see the “Census 2010” signs. We hear how significant it is. But many are still in the dark about the Census 2010 project. The census has been conducted every 10 years since 1790 and is required by the United States Constitution to collect basic information about citizens. Some of the information may include age, gender and race. The census also gathers a general count of the U.S. population.

Tax help here

VITA offers tax preparation

It’s almost that time of year again — tax time — and N. C. Central University’s Law School is offering free assistance to students, staff and the Durham community. Volunteer Income Tax Assistance, or VITA, is a program organized by the Internal Revenue Service to help individual have their tax returns prepared at no cost.

Photo of the Day

PHOTO GALLERY: New home for Eagles

The 2010 N.C. Central University baseball season started on a new home field — the newly renovated historic Durham Athletic Park.

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PHOTO GALLERY: Hammering for a habitat

Owning a home is a dream that is often out of reach. But volunteers from N.C. Central University, Duke University and the Durham chapter of Habitat for Humanity are working hard to make that dream come true for one family and build a house.

Full story

VIDEO: NCCU and Duke offer a helping hand to Haiti

They are athletic rivals in sports but students from N.C. Central University and Duke University joined forces to combat hunger on Jan. 20. Over 130 students and other volunteers traveled to Southern High School in Durham to participate in the Million Meals event. The goal of Wednesday night’s labor is 50,000 packaged meals specifically designated for the Haiti relief effort. Full story

Photo Gallery: BARNES' ART ON CENTERSTAGE

"I traded my cleats for canvas, my bruises for brushes"

The art of alumnus Ernie Barnes will be the centerpiece of N.C. Central University's homecoming and centennial celebration. His art, which he called neo-Mannerist in style, has been described as unequaled in the world of modern art.

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KeAundra Tate at her church in Lexington, N.C., Life in the Word Fellowship.

PHOTO GALLERY: The Word for 2010 - Have Faith in God

The Word for 2010: “Have Faith in God,” is the motto of the Life in the Word Fellowship Church located in Lexington, N.C. Life in the Word was founded October 2, 1994 by Pastors Eddie and Linda Scott.

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VIDEO: Wildin' Out

Freshmen have a cut loose in B.N. Duke

The first ever Wildin' Out Wednesday was held on Wednesday, January 6, 2010 in B.N. Duke Auditorium. The event was sponsored by the NCCUSGA Sophomore class council and hosted by President Regina Glover who got the idea from BET's "106 and Park."

Wildin' Out Wednesday provided N.C. Central University students with an outlet to showcase their various talents -- and it was a hit. There was standing room only. This week's talent included: a spoken word segment, a male and female vocalist selection and a several dance teams. Each of the winner in their respected catergory received a trophy for competing.

Full story