Mama Thorpe

Serenity Hargrove looks at one of the pieces on display at the Politicization & Sexualization of Black Bodies art exhibit. The opening reception was held on Monday, Feb. 11 at the Witherspoon Student Center Art Gallery, and was hosted by the NC State Women's Center and the African American Cultural Center. The gallery runs until March 21, and features stories and paintings created by NC State students and staff.

Feb 14, 2019

New Exhibit Features Art from Wolfpack, Counternarratives About the Black Body

The opening of “The Politicization and Sexualization of Black Bodies” exhibition was held on Feb. 11 in Witherspoon Student Center. The exhibition features the artistic works of NC State students, faculty and staff that tell their counternarratives and experiences of self-image and acceptance within higher education and historically white institutions.

Distinguished NC State faculty, staff, students and guests celebrate the reveal of the US Postal Service's newest Kwanzaa Forever Stamp on Oct. 10, 2018 in Witherspoon Student Center.

Oct 11, 2018

AACC hosts new USPS Kwanzaa Stamp Reveal

NC State’s African American Cultural Center (AACC) joined the United States Postal Service in dedicating the newest Kwanzaa Forever stamp. The dedication commenced in the Sankofa room of Witherspoon Student Center on October 10.

Two members of the audience join hands to celebrate the community spirit at the end of Harambee! 2018, presented by the African American Cultural Center (AACC). In the background, "Mama" Toni Thorpe, the retired program coordinator of the AACC, starts the Harambee! chant. Thursday, Sept. 6. (Swathi Karthik/Staff Photographer)

Sep 7, 2018

Harambee! Honors AACC, African-American Community

Swathi Karthik/Nubian Message Yesenia Jones | Staff Writer On Thursday, Aug. 6, the African American Cultural Center hosted its annual event Harambee! in the Washington-Sankofa Room. The event created a space in which positivity along with appreciation for our ancestors consumed the atmosphere. According to Toni “Mama” Thorpe, retired AACC program coordinator, Harambee is “a time…

Nov 29, 2017

Mama Thorpe Reflects on Nubian Message

Toni ‘Mama’ Thorpe stands with a drum in front of the breakroom and former Nubian Message office in the African American Cultural Center Monday, Nov. 27. Thorpe returns to campus to celebrate the Nubian’s 25th anniversary. Yesenia Jones | Staff Writer Toni Thorpe, who is affectionately called Mama Thorpe by those who know her, originally…

Nov 30, 2016

Your Voice: What Mama Thorpe means to you

“Her hugs are incomparable. Her wisdom is heaven sent. Her smile is contagious, and her love is unconditional! Mama, thank you for it all! I love and will definitely miss you” -Tyra Barnes, senior, arts studies “Mama Thorpe is a ray of sunshine in every aspect of her being. From the time she met me…

Nov 30, 2016

Mama Thorpe: A Lasting Legacy

Stephanie Tate | Editor-in-Chief “A mother knows her children,” exclaimed Toni Thorpe to an alumnus calling to send her well wishes. Thorpe, who is affectionately known as Mama Thorpe, is the program coordinator for the African American Cultural Center (AACC). She has served in this role for the past fifteen years and is officially retiring…

Nov 30, 2016

The future of the African American Cultural Center

Keilah Davis | Staff Writer Toni Harris Thorpe, widely known as Mama Thorpe, is retiring from NC State on Dec. 16. For over 15 years as program coordinator for the African American Cultural Center (AACC), Mama Thorpe has initiated and planned many programs including Harambee, Blacks in Wax, and What’s On the Table. “Mama Thorpe’s…

Nov 30, 2016

Letter from the Editor

Hey family, Thanks so much for sticking with the Nubian Message this semester. We’ve had a long semester, but I’m extremely grateful for all of you that have remained and/or become loyal readers. Because of you, our circulation is up and we have become more committed to producing quality journalism. However, none of this, including…

Nov 30, 2012

The Best Hugger in the World

Chelsea Gardner | Staff Writer It has been more than a decade since Toni Harris Thorpe joined the N.C. State family as program coordinator for the African American Cultural Center. While her job description does not include it, on a daily basis Thorpe, or “Mama Thorpe,” a nickname given to her by students, gleefully greets familiar…