Activism

Remembering The Winston-Salem Black Panther Party Chapter

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Fifty-one years ago this week the Black Panther Party was formed in Oakland California by Huey P. Newton and Bobby Seale. The Panthers have experienced a new appreciation in recent years, with numerous articles, books, and documentaries praising their activism in the late sixties and early seventies.

The Black Panthers were a radical resistance movement that opposed police oppression and economic exploitation in Black communities. Where the civil rights era’s leaders came primarily from church pulpits, the leaders of … Read the rest

Downtown Developments

Downtown Winston-Salem Moves East-East End Plan Presented

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Yesterday evening local residents gathered at First Calvary Baptist Church to learn about a massive development project, just east of the Innovation Quarter. The ambitious new project would completely reinvent roughly 170 acres between Highway 52, Business 40, and Martin Luther King Blvd.

The East End Plan presentation was very interesting. Ayers Saint Gross-a design firm out of Baltimore presented a myriad of ideas for what the East End of Winston could become.

East End is a new term … Read the rest

Activism

Winston-Salem Socialists, A Nice Addition To Pride W-S 2017

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Pride Winston-Salem keeps growing bigger and bigger each year. What once seemed taboo, has become widely accepted in our midsized, southern town. Each autumn, more businesses, and organizations march in the Pride Winston-Salem Parade.

One newcomer to this year’s Pride Winston-Salem Parade was the Winston-Salem Socialists. The city’s local chapter of the ISO might not be very well-known to Winston’s LGBTQ Community. But they should be.

The Winston-Salem ISO earned their place in Winston’s Pride Parade when they publicly … Read the rest

Activism

Pride Winston-Salem 2017, Beware Of Corporations That Appear To Be Allies

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Despite the overcast weather Saturday, Downtown Winston was filled with the bright, rainbow colors of Pride Winston-Salem. Winston’s annual Pride weekend continues to grow bigger and bigger each year.

Even though it’s a very commercial event sponsored by car salesmen, bankers and the like, attending Pride Winston-Salem is still a political action affirming the humanity of the LGBTQ Community. As long as there is still a vocal, hate-spewing, anti-LGBTQ minority, it will be important for gays and straight allies to … Read the rest

N.C. 5th District

The Coming N.C. 5th District Bowl

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Saturday’s college football game between Wake Forest and Appalachian State rekindled a rivalry that had been dormant for years. Wake Forest was lucky to leave Boone with a narrow 20-19 victory.

When residents of the 5th District vote in November of 2018, it will be a chance for Winston-Salem to retake the 5th from Watauga County’s Virginia Foxx.

It will be a chance for moderates and progressives to reject Foxx and her politics of hate and division.

Prior to Foxx … Read the rest

East Winston

Urban Street Church: A Symbol Of Winston’s Neglected Urban Core

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I drive by the old Urban Street Baptist Church, at 2315 Urban Street from time to time. It holds some sentimental importance to me. I attended church there when I was a kid in the early to mid-1980s.

The physical building and the neighborhood around it have both deteriorated over the decades. Recently, the City of Winston-Salem boarded up the place after vandals knocked out many of the church’s windows and open a couple of its doors. Probably so that … Read the rest

East Winston

A Spirited Historical Marker Ceremony At The Former 14th Street School

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Saturday, I went to the 14th Street School historical marker and an East Winston pep-rally broke out. I was pleasantly surprised to see how many folks turned out, approximately 50 people, possibly more.

That’s a stronger turnout than these type of ceremonies typically get in Winston. The vast majority of the crowd were wearing red, white, and blue t-shirts signifying that they were former students at the 14th Street School. There were a lot of old friends in the audience.… Read the rest

East Winston

Winston-Salem Honors Another Historical Site That It Failed To Preserve

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This afternoon a local historic marker commemorating the 14th Street School was unveiled at 1215 N. Cameron Ave. It’s a warm September day, perfect weather for such a happy occasion.

The 14th Street School produced many proud graduates that went on to do many fine things in the community and beyond. Honoring the 14th School is in the same tradition as honoring the African School at Happy Hill, which was honored in May of this year.

Both former schools … Read the rest

Local Media

The Camel City Dispatch If Not Already Dead, Appears To Be Mortally Wounded

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The Twin City Sentinal ended its run as an independent newspaper when it merged with the Journal in 1985. It’s hard to say exactly when the Camel City Dispatch died. Was it this year or the year before? But there is little doubt that CCD is dead.

Camel City Dispatch is a local journalism project that came to Winston’s mobile devices, tablets, and PCs in 2012. The ambitious upstart website was determined to challenge the Winston-Salem Journal. After a good … Read the rest

East Winston

New Zesto Planned For East Winston Isn’t Much To Get Excited About

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“Made-to-order char-grilled burgers, premium ice cream and new jobs  will be coming to New Walkertown Road.”

-Councilmember Derwin Montgomery

 

The property on New Walkertown Road that was home to a Church’s Chicken for many years has a new owner. Goler Community Development Corporation’s spinoff now owns the property and building. After Goler CDC and its partners rehab the building, it will be reopened as a Zesto franchise.

The Winston-Salem Chronicle reported on Goler’s acquisition of the former Church’s Chicken … Read the rest