Sandy Hoagland Jr. discusses his life growing up in Steele Creek and in Charlotte's First Ward during the 1960s and 1970s. [All times approximate] [00:00] Mr. Hoagland describes his family's history, his early childhood growing up in the Steele Creek area of Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, his family's focus on education, and their move to First Ward in uptown Charlotte in 1969 where his great aunt owned a house on 9th St. He notes his fascination in the Alexander Hotel in First Ward where many famous musicians stayed when they performed in Charlotte. He relates the impact of urban renewal on First Ward and the movement of Black families from the inner city to the Beatties Ford Rd. area. [31:27] He discusses the Earl Village public housing development in First Ward and the close relationship between First Ward and Second Ward. He relates the impact of road construction on both neighborhoods. [36:08] He discusses the involvement of C.D. Spangler as an significant owner of Second Ward property and also as the developer of post World War II housing for Black families including Brookhill Apartments, Double Oaks Apartments, and University Park. He notes that some houses were moved from First Ward to Fourth Ward during urban renewal. He describes the role of his neighbor, (Alando?) Lutz, as the person appointed to inform people that they were required to move. [43:30] He discusses Third Ward during urban renewal and the opening of previously white neighborhoods to African Americans, including Wesley Heights and Belmont. He notes that parts of First Ward that were not affected by urban renewal, further discusses Earl Village, and describes the Blue Heaven neighborhood between East Morehead Street and East Stonewall Street. [56:42] He reflects on his father, Mr. Hoagland Sr., his work for the American Bankers Insurance Company, his close relationship with his employer, Mr. (Rizada?), and Mr. Rizada's support for the Hoagland family. He reflects on extended family support for his family. [1:10:50] He relays his experiences of racial interaction during segregation, his memories of the assassination of Martin Luther King, and changes in racial relations over time. [1:21:09] He describes his family's move from Ninth Street to Eighth Street in 1979/80 when bungalows from Ninth Street were moved to Eighth Street and refurbished. [1:37:25] He describes the schools he and other family members attended, including Piedmont Middle School, Second Ward High School, and Myers Park High School. He gives a first person account of the student riot at Myers Park High School, tensions that led to the riot which was focused around equitable representation in sports, student efforts to resolve the issue, and rezoning of the schools that followed. [1:57:46] He discusses his school friendships with Leon Levine's children at East Mecklenburg High School. He reflects on his time as a student at East Mecklenburg.
