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Description

James Polk recounts fond memories of living in the Grier Heights neighborhood of Charlotte, North Carolina and visiting the nearby Brooklyn neighborhood, also known as Second Ward, with a focus on local businesses. He discusses working for his uncle at Grier Funeral Service, the company's history, and its significance in the African American community in Charlotte. Other topics include attending segregated schools and white and black entrepreneurs in Brooklyn. Mr. Polk concludes by discussing urban renewal and how it forced Grier Funeral Service to relocate to the west side of Charlotte.

Details

Title
James K. Polk oral history interview 3, 2007 March 21
Creator
Polk, James K. (James Knox), 1926-2010, interviewee
Contributor
Franklin, Solomon, interviewer
Date (Text)
2007-03-21
Place of Creation
Charlotte, North Carolina
Publisher
J. Murrey Atkins Library Special Collections and University Archives, University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Extent
1 audio file (34:14) : digital, MP3
Biographical/Historical Note
James Polk was an 81-year-old man at the time of interview, which took place in his home in Charlotte, North Carolina. He was born in Charlotte in 1926. He was educated at Clear Creek High School and Johnson C. Smith University and was employed as a funeral director with Grier Funeral Service and as a management consultant.
Other Identifiers
Handle: http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.13093/uncc:2589
System Control No.
OH-PO0557
Subject (Person)
Polk, James K. (James Knox), 1926-2010
Subject (Corporate)
Grier Funeral Service (Charlotte, N.C.)
Subject (Topic)
African Americans--Segregation
African American business enterprises
Funeral homes
City and town life
African American neighborhoods
African American families
Urban renewal
Geographic Coverage
North Carolina--Charlotte
North Carolina--Charlotte--Grier Heights
North Carolina--Charlotte--Brooklyn
North Carolina--Charlotte--Second Ward
Subject (Occupation)
Undertakers and undertaking
Executives
Subject (Date)
1930-2010
Type
Audio
Format
spoken word
Interviews
Oral histories
Language
English
Usage Statement
This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s). (http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/)
Copyright Holder
This material is protected by copyright. Copyright is held by the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.
Record Appears in
Oral History Collections > Student Project on Second Ward
Internet Mime Type
audio/mpeg
Location of Original
J. Murrey Atkins Library Special Collections and University Archives, University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Reproduction Note
MP3 access copy created on ingest from WAV preservation master. Interview transferred from compact disc with Exact Audio Copy.
2016-12-13
Condition
Interview originally divided on CD into seven tracks. There are brief pauses in the recording between the tracks which interrupt the flow of conversation.

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