Student Project on the Charlotte African American Community

Miriam Bates recounts her life growing up in Charlotte, her college experience at Hampton University in Virginia, and her return to Charlotte in 1978. Mrs. Bates recalls [...]

In this interview, Carson Beckwith recounts his life and career as a cosmetologist in Charlotte, North Carolina. Mr. Beckwith discusses his upbringing in rural Craven Cou[...]

William Frank Bonham discusses his life growing up in segregated Charlotte and his significant contributions to the community, in particular his involvement in the local [...]

Harvey Boyd reflects on his extraordinary life achievements, despite his limited opportunities as an African American man growing up in the segregated South. He begins by[...]

Viola Boyd describes her life as an African American woman during segregation and the civil rights movement. Mrs. Boyd describes Matthews, North Carolina, and in particul[...]

In this follow-up interview, retired hairdresser Viola Boyd speaks about her life, career, and family. She begins by discussing her experiences while living in Philadelph[...]

In her interview, Dr. Banita Brown, an associate chemistry professor at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, reflects on her upbringing, education, and career. [...]

Dorothy Counts-Scoggins recounts her experience growing up in the Biddleville community in the 1950s, including being the first African American student to integrate Hard[...]

Dorothy Counts-Scoggins was the first African American student to attend the all-white Harding High School as part of the Charlotte City Schools' first reluctant attempt [...]

Price Davis recounts his early life in segregated Charlotte, North Carolina. He shares his memories of living in the predominantly white township of Providence in Mecklen[...]

William Samuel Dunlap, commonly known as Sam, recounts his life in Charlotte's Brooklyn neighborhood, focusing on his success as a student-athlete at J.H. Gunn High Schoo[...]

UNC Charlotte professor Jeffrey Leak discusses his family's history in the Charlotte, North Carolina region and recounts his experiences growing up in West Charlotte and [...]

South Carolina native John W. Love discusses his life in Charlotte, North Carolina, and his personal experiences with segregation, the civil rights movement, integration,[...]

LaVerne Miller discusses her experiences growing up in Second Ward, a predominantly African American neighborhood in Charlotte, North Carolina, in the 1950s and 1960s. Sh[...]

Norman A. Mitchell, a native of Charlotte, North Carolina, recounts his experiences growing up in Charlotte during segregation in the 1950s and 1960s and after integratio[...]

James L. Ross II discusses his life growing up in Charlotte, his career, and participating in the African American Civil Rights Movement in North Carolina. Mr. Ross descr[...]

Elizabeth Sadler recounts her early life growing up on her family's farm in the small, rural section of northwestern Mecklenburg County known as Shuffletown during the 19[...]

Charlotte native Marty Saunders talks about her life, family, and career as a teacher. She recounts growing up in the Biddleville neighborhood, and how her family emphasi[...]

Charlotte native and teacher Marty Saunders continues the conversation about her life and the Biddleville neighborhood where she grew up in this second interview. She exp[...]

John L. Shadd briefly shares his thoughts on race relations within the United States during the 1930s-1970s. He comments on Jim Crow laws; the impact of the Civil Rights [...]

Gastonia, North Carolina native Daisy Shipp recounts her experiences as a nurse in the Charlotte region during the 1970s when the medical field in Charlotte was beginning[...]

Johnny C. Taylor Jr. recounts his education and his career as a corporate lawyer. He speaks about discrimination in corporate America he has faced as an African American,[...]

Vernard Thompson recounts his early life growing up in Charlotte's Third Ward neighborhood and life in the city's African American community during segregation. He discus[...]

Terry Tiamd recalls growing up in the Paw Creek community, which was later annexed by Charlotte, North Carolina, and differences that she perceived before and after deseg[...]

Charles Turner discusses his experiences with racism and discrimination during his lifetime in New York and Charlotte, where he moved to in 1961. He recounts how he first[...]