Gwendolyn Glenn

In 1863, abolitionist Harriet Tubman guided a raid that liberated nearly 760 enslaved people working on rice plantations along the Combahee River near Beaufort, South Carolina. Dr. Edda Fields-Black, a history professor at Carnegie Mellon University, wrote a book about the raid titled "Combee: Harriet Tubman, the Combahee River Raid, and Black Freedom during the Civil War." It shares the 2025 Pulitzer Prize for History. WFAE’s Gwendolyn Glenn speaks with Fields-Black.

In 1873, a group of about 50 African Americans facing threats from the Ku Klux Klan in their hometown of Cross Anchor in Spartanburg County, left in the middle of the night for the western North Carolina mountains. They named a king and queen, built a two-story palace and called their new kingdom Happy Land. Bestselling author Dolen Perkins-Valdez has written a novel with the same title based on this incredible true story.

Black motorcycle riders have always been around, but they haven’t received much attention — and when they have, it’s often been negative. A new exhibition at the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African American Art + Culture, "Black Behind Bars," aims to shine a positive light on the history of Black bikers. For photographer Alvin C. Jacobs Jr., who shot the images for the show, it’s also about mental health. WFAE’s Gwendolyn Glenn has more on the exhibition and Black biker culture.

Student government leaders at UNC-Chapel Hill are leading a national effort that calls for the Trump administration to back off from its attempts to control student activities and curricula on college campuses. The students are circulating a letter that accuses the White House of politicizing higher education, targeting international students and threatening funding at schools that do not end diversity, equity and inclusion programs. Adolfo Alvarez, student body president at UNC-Chapel Hill, tells WFAE’s Gwendolyn Glenn why the group felt the need to launch this campaign.

People came from near and far in large numbers to attend the Great West Side Fish Fry on West Trade Street in Charlotte on Saturday.

The price of seafood is expected to increase significantly because of President Trump’s new tariffs and because about 85% of this country’s seafood is imported. Fresh seafood market owners in Charlotte are closely watching seafood prices from overseas suppliers.

The Mint Museum Randolph’s African art galleries are open again after closing for an extensive, multi-year renovation. The galleries have expanded from two spaces to three and curators say they represent a broader and more honest depiction of the African art in the Mint’s collection.

Local poets featured on the new album "Black Charlotte: A Poetic Celebration of Place & Folk" will perform poems from the album for the first time at the Carolina Theatre on Friday, as part of Charlotte SHOUT! The album is the brainchild of Charlotte poet Laureate Jay Ward and spoken word poet Jah Smalls. Award-winning poet and slam master Bluz, explains the theme of the album, billed as a love letter to Charlotte — in this conversation with WFAE’s Gwendolyn Glenn.

It’s Final Four time for college men’s and women’s basketball teams in the NCAA Tournament. From the Carolinas, Duke goes against Houston Saturday on the men’s side and for the women, the University of South Carolina’s Gamecocks face Texas on Friday. With more about the tournament’s remaining games, WFAE’s Gwendolyn Glenn talks with Charlotte Observer veteran sportswriter Langston Wertz Jr.

Atlanta-based artist Ayana Ross uses her art to tell stories of everyday people doing everyday things, while exploring racial, social and historical issues. Her exhibition, “When Two or More Are Gathered," can be seen at UNC Charlotte Center City’s Projective Eye Gallery.