Racism News and Reporting Coverage | WRAL

DRAUGHON DRAWS: President Trump on the downhill slope

Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026-- Capitol Broadcasting Company's editorial cartoonist

DRAUGHON DRAWS: Water fountains, then and now

Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2025-- Capitol Broadcasting Company's editorial cartoonist

Fact check: North Carolina got a $22M grant to expand internet access. Trump said the program is 'based on race'

President Donald Trump called the Digital Equity Act, a Biden-era law to expand high-speed internet access, "racist" and "illegal."

Amy Sherman, PolitiFact reporter

Controversial video filmed in front of school enrages N.H. town

A New Hampshire community is outraged over a controversial video that was filmed in front of a high school. It shows an adult and a child wearing masks standing next to a sign that read "Jesus Loves White Children."

Columbus County Schools substitute teacher suspended after allegedly calling students racial slurs

According to a press release, John Barnett, a Civil Rights activist, received a call from two mothers who reported that their daughters were called "racially-charged words by their teacher."

WECT staff

'I'm gonna start swinging': Man won't be charged for tirade against utility workers

Raleigh police have decided not to file charges against a man who went on a racist tirade and swung a shovel at utility workers in a north Raleigh neighborhood, despite the incident being captured on cellphone video and shared widely online.

Caught on camera: Man goes on minutes-long racist rant against utility workers in Raleigh neighborhood

Raleigh police have decided not to file charges against a man who went on a racist tirade and swung a shovel at utility workers in a north Raleigh neighborhood, despite the incident being captured on cellphone video and shared widely online.

Sarah Krueger, WRAL investigative reporter

Durham employees speak out about hate group's banner

A banner promoting a white nationalist website was found at Durham's American Tobacco Campus on Saturday night. It prompted restaurant employees to tear the banner down.

Durham restaurant employees tear down white nationalist group's banner from American Tobacco Campus

A banner promoting a white nationalist website was found at Durham's American Tobacco Campus on Saturday night. It prompted restaurant employees to tear the banner down.

Monica Casey, WRAL Durham reporter

Durham police investigating white nationalist sign at American Tobacco Campus

A sign from a white nationalist hate group has been taken down from the American Tobacco campus in Durham.

NC high school students report getting anonymous racist text message

A Whiteville High School student said they received a racist text message this week along with several other students.

WECT

'There is no place for hate': Authorities investigating signs linked to hate group hung at American Tobacco Campus and along I-40

Authorities are investigating a sign that a hate group hung up at the American Tobacco Campus in Durham on Saturday. Signs from Patriot Front were also posted in various areas around downtown Durham.

Carly Haynes, WRAL reporter

Wave of racist texts after election prompts FBI scrutiny

A wave of racist text messages summoning Black people to report for slavery showed up on phones across the United States, prompting the scrutiny of the FBI.

Tim Balk and Erica L. Green, New York Times

Across the country, young people getting disturbing, racist texts

The FBI is investigating racist and offensive text messages being sent to numerous people across the country.

WRAL viewers report getting racist texts around Election Day

Multiple WRAL viewers have reported receiving racist and threatening text messages around Election Day, with disturbing content suggesting they would be "selected to pick cotton."

WRAL viewers report receiving racist texts around Election Day

Multiple WRAL viewers have reported receiving racist and threatening text messages around Election Day, with disturbing content suggesting they would be "selected to pick cotton."

Mark Robinson announces lawsuit against CNN over allegations of racist comments on porn site

CNN reported on Sept. 19 that Mark Robinson, using an alias, made racist and sexually explicit comments on a pornographic website called Nude Africa. Robinson has denied the claims and threatened legal action.

Robinson sues CNN, seeking $50M over allegations of racist comments on porn site

CNN reported on Sept. 19 that North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, using an alias, made racist and sexually explicit comments on a pornographic website called Nude Africa. Robinson has denied the claims. He sued the network on Tuesday.

Will Doran and Paul Specht, WRAL state government reporters

Justice Department claims Durham Fire Department unintentionally discriminated against Black applicants

The city of Durham is responding after the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) alleged unfair hiring practices within the Durham Fire Department targeting Black applicants.

Raleigh officer on leave after alleged social media post claiming Juneteenth is a 'made-up holiday'

According to a post on July 18 from Facebook user Tucker Dominique, a social media account that appeared to belong to Officer D.C. Twiddy posted an Instagram story from June 19 claiming Juneteeth is a made-up holiday.

Carly Haynes, WRAL reporter; Shaun Gallagher, WRAL reporter

NCDOT continues to pay millions to company it found discriminated against minority-owned subcontractor

A federal lawsuit has accused a contractor with nearly $200 million worth of contracts with the North Carolina Department of Transportation of creating a racially hostile work environment.

Randall Kerr, Sr. producer, WRAL Investigates

Millions of tax dollars going to a company accused of racism. WRAL Investigates why the state still hasn't taken action

WRAL Investigates why the state hasn't taken action after millions of tax dollars went to a company accused of racism. Plus, what an employee is sharing about his experience.

NC constitutional amendments: Legislature approves citizen-only voting, rejects repeal of Jim Crow literacy test law

Although North Carolina's literacy test rules were made unenforceable by the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965, they've remained written into the state constitution. Voters could have a chance to change that this year.

Will Doran, WRAL state government reporter

Willie Earl Vereen, member of the Wilmington Ten, dies

The Wilmington Ten were 10 activists who were imprisoned for almost 10 years after being falsely convicted of firebombing a store and shooting at firefighters in Wilmington in 1971, per The National Registry of Exonerations.

WECT

70 years after Brown v. Board, racism still present in schools

Friday marks 70 years since the Brown v. Board of Education decision. The landmark Supreme Court case ended racial segregation and discrimination in schools across the country, but many say racism still infiltrates schools today.