Commentaries

WHQR features a wide variety of community member commentators. Listen for commentaries during Morning Edition and All Things Considered on Thursdays. If you are interested in submitting a commentary to WHQR, email kcrane@whqr.org.

WHQR Commentaries don't necessarily reflect the views of WHQR Radio, its editorial staff, or its members.

Commentary: Mahlaynee Cooper

Mahlaynee Cooper is a poet, teaching artist, and the founder of Speak Ya Peace NC.United States Colored Troops — My HeroesThe legacy of the U.S.C.T. is deeply rooted in slavery. It’s the story of how our soldiers fought to be free — and foremost, it’s the unquestionable reason why we honor them for Veterans Day and commemorate them on Juneteenth.Can we sit with this for a moment, and understand the courage and the heart of these Black men? Can we comprehend the fearlessness that it took? This is the history they’re wanting to remove from the schoolbooks.The Battle at Forks Road was a triumph born from our tragically lived conditions. Close your eyes and imagine for a minute — we were enslaved on plantations, living in inhumane conditions, while oppressors gathered their families to watch the lynchings, as a cultural rite of passage, without even flinching.Our women were forced into the master’s bedroom, taking on the role of his bed wench, feeding and nourishing his babies as they suckled from our breast. These are some of the thoughts that must have passed through our ancestors’ hearts and minds as they decided to walk into battle during this moment in time.The love they had for us gave them the courage to fight. These brothers heard the voice of right — girding their waists with truth, dressed in the breastplate of righteousness, sent on a mission into the battlefield to die, fighting so that future generations of us might live.I need us to take a stand as we take a moment of silence for their bravery. Let’s put respect on the known and unknown names of our decorated brothers who fought for the restoration of our humanity.I am in awe. We celebrate and commemorate their sacrifices made for you and me — by the United States Colored Troops, A.K.A. the U.S.C.T. — my heroes.WHQR commentaries don’t necessarily reflect the views of WHQR Public Media, its editorial staff, or its members.
Commentary: Gary Trawick “Hope for the Future”

Gary Trawick is a retired Superior Court Judge, writer and teller of stories. He and his wife, Jennings, live in Burgaw.

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Commentary: Alan Sturrock

Born and educated in Scotland [of a Scots-Irish family], Alan was ‘called’ to teach and has taught in Scotland, Argentina and the United States in both public and private schools, and at the University [for the last 25 years]. Since moving to Wilmington four years ago, Alan parses his time volunteering at The Bellamy Mansion and teaching for OSHER [OLLI].
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Commentary: Gary Trawick

Gary Trawick is a retired Superior Court Judge, writer and teller of stories. He and his wife, Jennings, live in Burgaw.
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Commentary: Bob Thompson "Longfellow and the Bells"

Bob Thompson is a retired United Church of Christ pastor.WHQR commentaries don’t necessarily reflect the views of WHQR Public Media, its editorial staff, or its members.
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Commentary: Gary Trawick "Say I Don’t Know"

Gary Trawick is a retired Superior Court Judge, writer and teller of stories. He and his wife, Jennings, live in Burgaw.
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Commentary: Mahlaynee Cooper

Mahlaynee Cooper is a poet, teaching artist, and the founder of Speak Ya Peace NC.WHQR commentaries don’t necessarily reflect the views of WHQR Public Media, its editorial staff, or its members.
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Commentary: Wilbur Jones

Retired Navy Captain Wilbur Jones is an author and military historian who grew up in Wilmington during World War II. He was heavily involved in Wilmington earning designation as America's first WWII Heritage City.WHQR commentaries don’t necessarily reflect the views of WHQR Public Media, its editorial staff, or its members.
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Commentary: Nan Graham

Today Nan Graham has been thinking about the causes of and cures for what ails us.
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Commentary: Wilbur Jones

Retired Navy Captain Wilbur Jones is an author and military historian who grew up in Wilmington during World War II. He was heavily involved in Wilmington earning designation as America's first WWII Heritage City.WHQR commentaries don’t necessarily reflect the views of WHQR Public Media, its editorial staff, or its members.
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Commentary: Wills Maxwell

Wills Maxwell, Jr. is a stand-up comedian by night and founder of the Black Power Rangers Comedy Tour.WHQR commentaries don’t necessarily reflect the views of WHQR Public Media, its editorial staff, or its members.WHQR commentaries don’t necessarily reflect the views of WHQR Public Media, its editorial staff, or its members.
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Commentary: Wilbur Jones

Retired Navy Captain Wilbur Jones is an author and military historian who grew up in Wilmington during World War II. He was heavily involved in Wilmington earning designation as America's first WWII Heritage City.WHQR commentaries don’t necessarily reflect the views of WHQR Public Media, its editorial staff, or its members.