Charlotte Talks With Mike Collins June 8, 2026

Black family reunions are often remembered for cookouts, family photos and matching shirts, but the centuries-long tradition runs much deeper. We explore how Black family reunions came to be, why they endured and what they continue to preserve. GUESTS: Jasmine Ballard, founder and executive creative director at Melanotion Denise Spruill, Ph.D., adjunct professor and director of the Ronald McNair Scholars Program at Johnson C. Smith University Ernie Suggs, journalist with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution who writes about race and culture