As time moves, history is made.
During Black History Month, let’s not forget that.
Many people take a pause in time to commemorate and reflect on the endless collection of stories detailing Black Americans’ existence in the past. Black history is synonymous with American history, therefore there’s a unique lens into the Black American experience that’s worth exploring in just about every walk of this country.
Right here in North Carolina, Durham has it on full display. The physical and oral reminders of the Hayti District, Black Wall Street, the Historic Durham Athletic Park and Durham’s Negro League baseball teams, the story of the “secret” first interracial basketball game in the south and the continued existence of institutions like North Carolina Central University and Hillside High School are hard to miss.
But those aren’t the only lenses where one could find Black history. Oftentimes, finding those reminders doesn’t have to be intentional — it can be done in leisure and everyday life.
For instance, it can be found by simply attending a local sporting event. Because in Durham, Black Americans are continuing to write their story in the shaping of the city’s sports culture.
From Mayor Leo Williams down to the city’s high school athletic directors, Durham’s network of Black leaders has their hands in the making of a unique sports town: one that attracts visitors from around the country and the world.
WalletHub recently ranked Durham in the top 10 Best Sports Cities for 2025 for midsize markets across the United States. The ranking was based on fans’ perspectives, scoring 400 cities across more than 50 metrics related to football, baseball, basketball, soccer and hockey.
Along with Williams, who works alongside the city’s leaders in sports, it’s Black sports leaders such as NCCU Athletic Director Skip Perkins, Durham Public Schools Athletic Director David Hackney, Duke Director of Athletics Nina King and Durham Sports Commission Executive Director Marcus Manning that help make that recognition for Durham possible.
“The history and culture of Durham are deeply rooted in resilience, progress and community,” King said. “The Duke women’s basketball team recently hosted its Black Excellence Game, celebrating and recognizing both Black History in Durham and the many Black leaders shaping our community. I’m grateful to live and work in a community where Black voices are honored and amplified.”
The DSC is a tax-exempt nonprofit organization founded in 2016 with the mission to “create economic and social impact by leading the community’s efforts to attract, support, and promote youth, amateur, collegiate and professional sporting and recreational events.”
Since stepping into his current role with the DSC during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Manning has helped the organization live up to that mission, winning the bids to host the 2025-27 CIAA Football Championships (first time it’ll be played in Durham since 2015) and this year’s ACC Baseball Tournament, ACC Wrestling Championship and CIAA Track and Field Championship.
“We had a great retreat in the early part of 2021, and we really talked about, ‘Can we become a championship hub,’” Manning said. “We were fortunate enough through a collective effort with our city, Durham County, Durham Chamber, Discover Durham, Duke, NC Central, Durham Bulls and public schools, we all came together and really were strategic on bringing championships to the area.”
“We’ve hosted the NAIA football national championship for four straight years. The CIAA Track and Field Championships. We’ve hosted multiple state high school championships as well.”
Manning and the DSC also look to continue to foster Durham’s connection with HBCU athletics, given the city’s rich Black history and significance in HBCU culture. He credits Williams with being involved in the “recruitment and retention” efforts and helping make sure CIAA events are held in the city.
“You think about the geographical footprint here in Durham, and we have HBCUs that come here,” Manning said. “The CIAA fits within our footprint. NC Central used to be a member of the CIAA. Shaw University plays their football games at Durham County Memorial Stadium, so we feel like it’s a perfect fit to have the CIAA and other HBCUs come to Durham.”
Even within the DSC there’s a network of Black individuals with valuable experience in sports and leadership that make a huge impact as well. Board Chair Dr. Ingrid Wicker McCree and Vice Chair Angelique Stallings come to mind for Manning for what they’ve done both within and outside of the organization. Stallings is also the vice president of community investment for the Durham Chamber.
“Dr. Ingrid Wicker McCree was a former athletic director at NC Central, and she really created a pathway and foundation for sustained success at NC Central,” Manning said. “To have her be the chair of our board for the sports commission, we cannot thank her enough for her services.”
As teams from around the country come to Durham to compete in large events and local teams continue to provide a vibrant culture across different levels of athletics, let’s remember that there’s Black voices behind the scenes adding to the city’s sports history — a history that’s not only told in the second month of the year but speaks as long as time goes.
