FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

February 4, 2003
For more information, contact
Loretta Harper-Arnold, Community Relations Director at (919) 821-8652

RALEIGH - For the third year, WRAL-TV celebrates Black History Month with Living the Legacy. This month-long campaign, which includes a series of public service announcements and weekly news stories, spotlights the accomplishments of local individuals who are living the legacy of their ancestry and great African-American leaders.

Each Thursday through the month of February, WRAL will air news stories during the 5:30 News profiling present-day leaders who are making a significant contribution to our community. The first story, scheduled to air February 6, profiles “Grandaddy Junebug,” a professional story-teller. Also known as Mitch Capel, Grandaddy Junebug captures the imagination of children with hugely entertaining performances.

“I listen to kids and I listen to their music so that I can talk to them. I want to talk to them, not down at them,” says Capel of his method, but entertainment isn’t his only goal. His stories often teach children about teamwork, forgiveness, and overcoming adversity and prejudice.

Capel is a 48-year-old African-American who lives in Fayetteville and is Living the Legacy by teaching children through storytelling.

You can learn more about WRAL’s Living the Legacy campaign by going to WRAL.com and clicking on the WRAL Info section. There you will find local stories, Black history resources and events as well as an interactive page with a timeline of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s achievements, audio of his speeches and more.