University of North Carolina Athletics
UNC Athletics Celebrates Black History Month 2026
February marks Black History Month, an important time to remember and recognize Black people who have meant so much to our history while we also continue to have conversations about our present and future.
Black History Month 2025
Black History Month 2024
Black History Month 2023
Black History Month 2022
Black History Month 2021
FEATURE STORIES
Read more about Tar Heels making a difference with feature stories that will be archived here throughout the month.Black History Month Spotlight: Bella Miller
Black History Month Spotlight: Joel James
Black History Month Spotlight: Kaya Forbes
Black History Month Spotlight: Kate Howard
Features on Recent Tar Heel Trailblazers
2022 - Synthia Scott Kearney
2022 - Reggie McAfee
2024 - Sonya Bright
2024 - Mickey Hickerson
2026 - Martina Ballen
2026 - Martina Ballen (video below)
TAR HEEL TRAILBLAZERS
On GoHeels.com, you can read about the 18 African-American former student-athletes who have received Tar Heel Trailblazer awards and what they've been up to since being honored. Since its inception in 2014, the award celebrates individuals who paved the way for success in all aspects of the student-athlete experience. New Tar Heel Trailblazers are selected ever other year and were most recently honored in 2024.The Tar Heel Trailblazer award recipients are:
2014 - Courtney Bumpers, Robyn Hadley, Ricky Lanier and Charlie Scott
2015 - Charles Waddell, Karen Stevenson and Stuart Scott
2016 - Sharon Couch and Phil Ford
2018 - Peter Henry and Rochelle Small-Toney
2020 - Willie Cooper
2022 - Synthia Scott Kearney and Reggie McAfee
2024 - Sonya Bright and Mickey Hickerson
2026 - Martina Ballen and Hubert West
SOCIAL MEDIA
Be sure to check back here for updates throughout the month and follow @GoHeels on X and Instagram. This page will highlight Black History Month content from a variety of athletics and campus social media accounts.Today marks the beginning of Black History Month! Join us as we proudly celebrate the tremendous legacy of Black excellence here at Carolina and beyond 🖤🐏#GoHeels x #BHM pic.twitter.com/t79jqTICfp
— UNC Tar Heels (@GoHeels) February 1, 2026
We're proud to introduce our 2026 class of Tar Heel Trailblazers!
— UNC Tar Heels (@GoHeels) February 2, 2026
💠 Martina Ballen 💠
The first African American administrator in UNC Athletics history who served in the business office since 1987 until her retirement this month
💠 Hubert West 💠
One of the first two African… pic.twitter.com/kaAEIcm8yW
Throughout #UNC's history, several pioneers have broken down barriers for the generations to follow. Their courageous examples moved Carolina closer to the ideal of the University of the people.
— The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (@UNC) February 3, 2026
Learn more about Tar Heels who paved the way https://t.co/mEWLARZLqP
Celebrating Black History All Month Long!
— Carolina Women's Basketball (@uncwbb) February 9, 2026
Come join us on Thursday vs. SMU for our Black History Month Celebration.
🎟️ | https://t.co/6aIaFobG43 pic.twitter.com/syJrZdQ15q
Celebrating Black excellence always!
— Carolina Softball (@UNCSoftball) February 11, 2026
We are so excited for our Black History Month game tonight! pic.twitter.com/kNDrQ90EaU
ONLINE RESOURCES
On Campus:
UNC will celebrate Black History Month throughout February with lectures, performances and exhibitions. More information is available at UNC.edu.