Honoring the Past, Building a Future
Some days, it feels like we’re living inside a Southern novel. Not the kind with porch swings and sweet tea, but the darker kind, where power and corruption hides in plain sight, and self-preservation outweighs public service. The longer I write about Rocky Mount, the clearer it becomes. We are not just observers in this … Continue reading When Real Life Reads Like a Southern Novel
On a recent post about Rueben Blackwell and the condition of Happy Hill, a reader left a comment that spoke directly to what many in Rocky Mount have quietly hoped for: "We need City Management to assemble a group of smart, hard working, caring, professional staff members who will look at every neighborhood in the … Continue reading Rocky Mount,NC: A Neighborhood, A Task Force, A Future
October 7, 2025 - In this case, the most powerful statement a voter can make is not a vote at all. In response to a comment on Facebook about the shameful neglect of the Happy Hill neighborhood, I replied with a thought I now want to explore more fully. Councilman Reuben Blackwell is running unopposed … Continue reading Boycotting a ‘ballot line’ In Happy Hill: Councilman Rueben Blackwell
Thomas Street When I first discovered Happy Hill a few years ago, I felt something stir. Not just in the architecture, but in the rhythm of the place. Along Star, Harris, and Vyne Streets, the shotgun houses still stand. Some are tired, some are empty, but all of them speak to me. With each visit, … Continue reading A White Lady With Camera Again: Happy Hill Left To Sit In It’s Ashes
Main Street Rocky Mount 