Meet The Fayetteville Observer’s Future Black History Makers of 2026

Feb. 1, 2026, 5:03 a.m. ET

I’ve spent the past few weeks learning about a group of exceptional young people. Today, on the first day of Black History Month 2026, I am honored to introduce them to you.

They are the 28 Cumberland County Schools students who make up The Fayetteville Observer’s Future Black History Makers, Class of 2026.

We created this program, which is very near and dear to my heart, after spending time speaking with people in the community about how the Observer could better serve our Black readers. From those conversations, we learned that people wanted to see the full story of Cumberland County’s Black community — not just the headline-grabbing stories but also the quieter one about the interesting people who live here, including coverage of young people and their accomplishments.

From those conversations, Future Black History Makers was born.

When Opinion Editor Myron B. Pitts and I first started talking about the program, it was important to us to celebrate students not only for their academic prowess, athletic ability or talent, but also for their positive character traits.

Some of these students were nominated because they are kind or brave or because they have endured hardships at a young age, but continue to persevere. I find their stories inspiring, and I think you will, too.

What do you love about yourself?

Each year, we ask our honorees to complete a questionnaire so we can learn more about them — what they like, their aspirations, their inspirations.

The students’ answers range from the profound to the humorous, and I love this glimpse into their personalities.

But perhaps the most illuminating question that we ask each honoree is to tell us what their favorite thing is about themselves. It’s a deceptively simple question; one I think most adults would struggle to answer.

Our Future Black History Makers, however, haven’t lost their ability to see the good in themselves; I hope as they grow older, they come back to these answers and remember that they love their outspokenness; their intelligence; their courage; their self-confidence; their curiosity; or their ability to stay true to themselves.

Thank you, Future Black History Makers, for allowing us to celebrate you. We’re cheering for your success and will be watching to see what happens in your bright futures.

You are history in the making.

Partnership

The Future Black History Makers program, now in its fourth year, is brought to you by The Fayetteville Observer’s partnership with Cumberland County Schools — we couldn’t do it without them.

This year’s class was selected by a panel of judges, including Dr. Lindsay Whitley, associate superintendent of Communications and Community Engagement for Cumberland County Schools; Elizabeth Stiff, communications specialist with Cumberland County Schools; Myron B. Pitts, Fayetteville Observer opinion editor; and F.T. Norton, Fayetteville Observer local news editor.

Fayetteville Observer photographer Andrew Craft took the lovely portraits of each of our honorees.

New this year, in response to community feedback, Future Black History Makers honorees also include high school students.

And now, introducing The Fayetteville Observer’s Future Black History Makers Class of 2026.