African American-owned media have played an important role in Winston-Salem's history. WAAA, the state's first black radio station began broadcasting in 1950, and the Winston-Salem Chronicle, a weekly newspaper serving the city's black residents, began publishing in 1972.

Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum, named after Winston-Salem's only Congressional Medal of Honor recipient, opened in 1989. Joel, who grew up in East Winston, was cited for conspicuous gallantry in 1965 when his division was ambushed by 700 Viet Cong. He distinguished himself as a medic by saving the lives of at least 13 men. President Johnson awarded him the medal in 1967.

Winston-Salem has long had a reputation as a city of the arts. The Arts Council of Winston-Salem Forsyth County, the first of its kind in the country, is now one of only a handful of arts councils across the nation that raises more than $1 million a year. That revenue supports several local arts organizations including the North Carolina Black Repertory Company, a nonprofit organization committed to sustaining and developing black theatre around the world. In 1999, the Black Repertory Company celebrated the 10th anniversary of the National Black Theatre Festival in Winston-Salem. The festival, produced every other year, brings together playwrights, actors and performance artists to stage new and established works by African Americans at sites around the city. In addition to the week-long schedule of events and performances, the company presents workshops and seminars for professionals, a youth/celebrity project for children and teens, a reader's theatre and an international vendor's market





Delta Arts Center
336.722.2625, 1511 E. Third Street
(new address in 2004: 2611 New Walkertown Road)
The city's oldest African American, nonprofit, cultural and educational organization, established in 1972, is dedicated to encouraging individual creativity and stimulating community pride in American arts and humanities. To this end, the center offers multi-disciplinary classes and workshops to the public throughout the year, as well as a number of exciting events and exhibitions that promote contributions of African Americans to the arts. Two 30-feet high murals, "Origins" and "Ascension," by John Biggers were commissioned by Winston-Salem Delta Fine Arts, Inc. and are on display at O'Kelly Library at Winston-Salem State University.





Diggs Gallery
336.750.2458, Winston-Salem State University (WSSU), 601 Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive
Discover Winston-Salem's rich African and African American heritage in the collection of paintings, sculpture and decorative arts at WSSU's Diggs Gallery, named for James T. Diggs, Jr., graduate of Teachers College and chairman of WSSU's art department. Annually, the gallery presents 10-15 exhibitions in its 6,500 square-foot space and hosts educational programs in a number of disciplines. Call for information, gallery hours or to schedule a tour.





Triad City Tours
Connie Smith, 336.788.9095 or 336.785.1854
The "Black Heritage Tour of Winston-Salem" is custom-tailored for any group. Take the Safe Bus Co. route along Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive and learn about life in old East Winston neighborhoods, such as Happy Hill, Reynoldstown and Columbian Heights. Visit historic sites like St. Philips Church in Old Salem, Winston-Salem Teachers College and the homes of Simon Green Atkins and George Black. Venture beyond the city on a specially arranged "Touch the Triad Tour." The schedule is seasonal, so tour reservations are recommended. Pick-up and return to the Winston-Salem Visitor Center and area hotels are free.






Winston-Salem State University Sculpture Garden
More than 20 years ago a dream of a sculpture garden developed from the rubble of an old auditorium. Plans for the garden were suggested to Chancellor Kenneth R. Williams and Gordon Hanes, a former trustee. The Hanes Foundation provided landscaping for the project, and in 1981, the first sculpture, "Southern Sunrise" by Melvin Edwards (b. 1937, Texas), was chosen from among entries in a national competition funded by the Hanes Foundation and juried by the university.