AJC Sepia HBCU of the Week: North Carolina Central Notable Alumni

Education

AJC Sepia HBCU of the Week: 'No ordinary barnyard fowl,' North Carolina Central University Notable Alumni

Homecoming at North Carolina Central University, usually the last Saturday of October or the first Saturday of November, has been a long standing tradition for more than a century on the campus' sloping hills. One of the school's most famous alumni, artist Ernie Barnes -- known for his use of the body, form and movement -- depicted the pagentry in his classic painting, "Homecoming." Barnes is one of thousands of Eagles who have passed through NCCU's gates. Here are the Eagles that soared the highest.

Julius Chambers was a prominent civil rights attorney, who in 1993 became the first NCCU graduate to return home to serve as president or chancellor. Chambers' civil rights record, including several arguments before the United States Supreme Court, is sterling. In 1963, fresh out of law school, Chambers was selected by Thurgood Marshall to become NAACP Legal Defense Fund's first intern. In 1971 practicing out of Charlotte in the first integrated law firm in North Carolina, he litigated Swann v. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education, which held that busing was an appropriate remedy for the problem of racial imbalance in schools, even when the imbalance resulted from the selection of students based on geographic proximity to the school rather than from deliberate assignment based on race. In 1984, Chambers left the firm to return to the NAACP Legal Defense Fund as Director-Counsel. Chambers died 2013.

A son of Atlanta, Maynard Jackson was the first black mayor of Atlanta. But before becoming mayor, he graduated from North Carolina Central University's law school in 1964. In the above picture, Maynard Jackson hugs his mother, Irene Dobbs Jackson, and his first wife, Bunnie Jackson, also an NCCU graduate, after his election in 1973.

Maynard Jackson was declared the winner -- by referee Julian Bond -- during an exhibition boxing match against Muhammad Ali (on the canvas) in 1975. Jackson served as mayor from 1974 to 1982 and returned to office from 1990 to 1994. During his 12 years in office he helped create an Atlanta that boasted the world's busiest airport, allowed minorities to do business with the government, hosted the Olympic Games and attracted people to a black mecca. Atlanta's airport, Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport, is named for him. As well as the Maynard H. Jackson Jr. International Terminal. Jackson died in 2003.

A native of Durham, Ernie Barnes didn't have to go far for college. He was a true Renaissance man, as a professional football player, actor and artist. It was as an artist that he touched the world. His artistic style was unique -- distinctive color palettes and black bodies, elongated, but familiar. His work reached its largest audience when Barnes served as the surrogate for the work of J.J. Evans on the television show, "Good Times." His classic, "The Sugar Shack," a sweaty, hot study of black late night celebration and rhythm, was used on "Good Times" and on the cover of Marvin Gaye's "I Want You."

Ivan Dixon was an actor who came of age during the civil rights movement of the 1960s when he served as a president of Negro Actors for Action. He is perhaps best known for his role as Staff Sergeant James Kinchloe in "Hogan's Heroes." He also played Asagai in the movie version of "A Raisin in the Sun," starred in the 1964 cult classic, "Nothing But a Man," and played a key role as an elder statesman in "Car Wash." North Carolina Central's theatrical company is known as the "Ivan Dixon Players."

Lee Calhoun (right) with NCCU track coach and future U.S. Olympic Track and Field Head Coach LeRoy T. Walker. Calhoun is one of NCCU's greatest track athletes, winning gold in the 110 meter hurdles in the 1956 and 1960 Olympics. He was elected to the United States National Track and Field Hall of Fame in 1974.

Sam Jones starred for NCCU's basketball team in the early 1950s earning all-CIAA honors three times. Jones was drafted in 1957 by the Boston Celtics, athough Red Auerbach had never seen him play, although he heard he was the best player in North Carolina. Jones proved him right. He was a five-time all-star for the Celtics during his 12-year career. Jones also has 10 NBA championship rings, second only to Bill Russell's 11. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1984 and his college jersey, no. 41, is retired and hangs in the Eagles' arena.

Herman Boone is a former high school football coach at T. C. Williams High School in Alexandria, Va. In 1971, when the city decided to totally consolidate its school system, Boone was appointed as its first consolidated head football coach. They won the 1971 state championship. Boone's story was later told in 2000 in the movie, "Remember the Titans." Denzel Washington starred in the film as Boone.

North Carolina Central University Founder James E. Shepard, welcomed politician and preacher Adam Clayton Powell to the campus in the 1940s. Powell did not attend NCCU, but the school has produced its share of men and women who rose to political power and those who served a higher power.

RonaldRamsey Sr. is a former Georgia state senator, who in 2015 was appointed by Gov. Nathan Deal to a newly created judgeship in the DeKalb County State Court's Traffic Division.

Mike Easley was the 72nd governor of the state of North Carolina, serving from 2001-2009. He graduated from NCCU's law school in 1972.

G.K. Butterfield, who earned undergraduate and law degrees from NCCU, is the current chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus. The Democrat is the U.S. Representative for North Carolina's 1st congressional district.

Vernon Jones was DeKalb County’s CEO from 2000 to 2008. He’s now running for a state House of Representatives seat covering parts of DeKalb and Rockdale counties. JOHN SPINK/JSPINK@AJC.COM

Barry Black has served as the chaplain for the United States Senate since 2003.

William Barber II is the leader of the Moral Monday movement that advocates for social justice. This past January, Barber delivered the keyote speech during the 48th Martin Luther King Jr. Annual Commemorative Service at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta. JONATHAN PHILLIPS / SPECIAL

Bishop Eddie Long, the senior pastor of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, speaks a the DeKalb County megachurch in 2016.

Willie Gary is a Florida attorney who has gained national attention for taking on several large corporations on behalf of clients and winning millions in settlements.

Dr. Warachal Faison is a geriatric psychiatrist and medical director for the divisions of Women’s and Men’s Health at Pfizer Inc. in New York City.

André Leon Talley is a fashion icon and the former American editor-at-large for Vogue magazine. He earned his bachelor’s degree in French literature from NCCU. Talley attends the 11th annual CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Awards at Spring Studios on November 3, 2014 in New York City. (Photo by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images)

Bianca Barnes-Williams is a veteran television network executive who produces shows for Bravo and BET.

Michael Flowers, known professionally as Mike City, is a Philadelphia-born singer-songwriter and record producer. He has produced several major artists, including Carl Thomas, Brandy and Dave Hollister. But he is perhaps most proud of his work with fellow NCCU graduate.....

...Sunshine Anderson. Mike Flowers literally discovered her singing in line in the NCCU cafeteria. In 2001, her debut album, "Your Woman," was released. It debuted at #8 on Billboard's Hot 200 and #2 on the Top R&B charts. Buoyed by the lead single, "Heard It All Before," the album was certified gold.

Charles Whitfield is the co-founder of Hidden Beach Recordings, an independent music label. A music industry veteran, he has held several executive roles with Hidden Beach Recordings, CBS Radio and Beasley Broadcast Group.

Little Brother was a rap and hip-hop group formed on the campus of North Carolina Central University, consisting of rappers Phonte (Phonte Coleman), and Rapper Big Pooh (Thomas Jones) and DJ/producer 9th Wonder (Pat Douthit). In 2003, they released their first full-length studio album, "The Listening." Following the critical success of the album, mogul Jay-Z tapped 9th Wonder to work on "The Black Album." It was the group's second album, "The Minstrel Show," that propelled them to legendary status. Several magazine's ranked it among the best albums of a generation. A critic from "The Source" even quit the magazine when his original 4.5 rating out of 5 was downgraded to a 4. Adding to the drama, despite the critical acclaim, BET refused to play the group's video, which the network deemed, "too intelligent." Little Brother comprised of (L to R) Big Pooh, Ninth Wonder, Phonte and their manager (in front) attend the Billboard R&B/Hip Hop Conference Award ceremony at the Jackie Gleason Theater on August 8, 2003 in Miami Beach, Florida. (Photo by Ronna Gradus/Getty Images)

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Homecoming at North Carolina Central University, usually the last Saturday of October or the first Saturday of November, has been a long standing tradition for more than a century on the campus' sloping hills. One of the school's most famous alumni, artist Ernie Barnes -- known for his use of the body, form and movement -- depicted the pagentry in his classic painting, "Homecoming." Barnes is one of thousands of Eagles who have passed through NCCU's gates. Here are the Eagles that soared the highest.

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