WNAA Features Black History Programs This Month

Black History You Didn’t Know
Thursday, Feb. 19, 10 a.m.

Sandra Hughes, former anchor at WFMY-TV and professor in the Department of Journalism at North Carolina A&T State University, will host a Black History Month special featuring professors from the university's Department of History. They'll talk about Black history in North Carolina, focusing on history that many of us might not know.

Hughes' guests will be:

• Dr. Arwin Smallwood, chairman of the Department of History and author of several books and articles on African-American history, one of which focuses on the history of African Americans and Native Americans in Eastern North Carolina.
• Flora Hatley Wadelington, co-author of the book: A History of African Americans in North Carolina.” Wadelington has worked in the Office of Archives and History of the N.C. Department of Cultural Resources in Raleigh. She also teaches history at A&T.

"As I prepare for this show I have gained a much deeper knowledge of and appreciation for the research that Dr. Smallwood and professor Wadelington have conducted. Their knowledge should be shared," said Dr. Kim Smith, an assistant professor in the journalism department and executive producer of "Black History You Didn't Know."

The public is invited to participate as call-in guests. The program will be produced in conjunction with the staff of WNAA-FM/HD radio.

Furious Flower
Tuesday, Feb. 17, 7 p.m.

An homage to the work of poet laureate and Pulitzer Prize winner Rita Dove, an exclusive interview with award-winning poet Sonia Sanchez and more.

The Legacy of Massive Resistance
Tuesday, Feb. 24, 11 a.m.

A deeper look into the legacy of massive resistance. Larissa Fergeson provides the historical context of the walkouts and speaks with the students who participated.

Gospel Roots of Rock And Roll
Thursday, Feb. 26, 11 a.m.

Sister Rosetta Tharpe attained great popularity in the 1930s and ‘40s with gospel recordings mixing spiritual lyrics and early rock and roll. She became the first superstar of gospel music and was an early influence on Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Little Richard and Johnny Cash.

Sheer Good Fortune
Tuesday, Feb. 24, 7 p.m.

Toni Morrison is one of America’s leading fiction writers and recipient of the highest accolades in literature. Nikki Giovanni and Joanne Gabbin pay tribute to her through interviews with renowned writers, singers and poets, including Maya Angelou.

A Man Like Curtis: Curtis Mayfield
Friday, Feb. 20, 10 a.m.

From humble beginnings in Chicago, Curtis Mayfield developed into a songwriter, arranger, guitarist and one of the cornerstones of soul music. This tribute is hosted by Lenny Kravitz, for whom Curtis was a major musical influence.

Where Is the Love: The Donny Hathaway Story
Friday, Feb. 20, 10 a.m.

Donny Hathaway was a songwriter, vocalist, pianist, and arranger with a passionate sound instantly recognizable to this day. Roberta Flack, his collaborator and close friend, traces Hathaway's meteoric rise to the tragic end of his brief life.

The Magic Of Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn
Wednesday, Feb. 18, 11 a.m.

The artistic collaboration between Duke Ellington and composer/arranger Billy Strayhorn is one of the most important in American music. "The Magic of Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn" explores how Ellington trusted Strayhorn's artistic gifts from the moment he joined the band in 1939 until Strayhorn's death in 1967.

Masters on Masters
Tuesday, Feb. 17, 11 a.m.

A tribute to NEA Jazz Masters J.J. Johnson, Joe Henderson and Jackie Mclean with conversations and live performances.

Stubborn Kinda Fella: Remembering Marvin Gaye
Friday, Feb. 27, 10 a.m.

Smokey Robinson explores Marvin Gaye's musical legacy from the early 1960s until his death in 1984.