More than 90 years ago, poet Langston Hughes visited UNC amidst controversy

Posted Apr 20, 2023
When Langston Hughes, a world-renowned poet, author and playwright was invited to speak at the then all-white University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill in 1931, the event caused a major stir. The university was strongly criticized for inviting Hughes to campus and UNC president Frank Graham received many letters calling for the visit to be canceled. (WFAE)

Related: Campus Connections

UNC and Duke ROTC To Ruck Men's Basketball Game Ball To Durham Friday
Members of the Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) from UNC and Duke will ceremonially tip off the season-ending matchup between the schools' men's basketball...
Thu Mar 5, 2026

“Every life is worth saving”: How a UNC researcher’s website is connecting communities to naloxone
Delesha Carpenter began her career as a researcher focused on pediatrics. About seven years ago, her path took an unexpected turn following the deaths of...
Wed Mar 4, 2026

Meet Sutton's Drug Store owner Don Pinney
Opened in 1923 by Lynwood and Lucy Sutton, Sutton's Drug Store was sold to Elliott Brummitt in 1965 with the understanding that the store wouldn’t...
Fri Feb 27, 2026

Carolina Covenant Documentary Wins Emmy
Chase Martin, assistant director of video for university development, and Jeyhoun Allebaugh, assistant director of photo and video for university development, accepted the best educational...
Wed Feb 25, 2026