Mr. Price Davis’ memories span almost twenty years, and, although he resided in Cherry and New York City during this time, attended the first African-American High School in Charlotte, Second Ward, which was located in the heart of Brooklyn. Graduating from Second Ward in 1939 and about to turn eighty years old in two months, Mr. Davis was very emotional and vocal with his testimony, offering a fascinating view into not only the daily life of the residents of Brooklyn but also insights into public services, specifically the actions and policies of the Charlotte Police Department. Mr. Davis describes, in detail, the feelings towards the first black officers in Charlotte, his brutal treatment under white officers, and his ultimate love of the city of Charlotte and how it has changed. Davis participated in two interviews, the second of which was recorded with a small group of Second Ward High School Alumni.

Mr. Price Davis is also included of the Second Ward Alumni Interview

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Mr. Calvin C. Davis attended Second Ward High School and Johnson C. Smith University. Mr. Davis was a former Superintendent in the school system as well as a former Director of Special Education. Mr. Davis talked fondly of his memories at Second Ward and the activities at the high school and the rivalries with West Charlotte High. He also speaks to the limitations of changing policy of City officials, discussing one example of what was termed a “done deal.”

Mr. Calvin C. Davis is included of the Second Ward Alumni Interview.

Mr. Don Bryant was elected to the Charlotte City Council in 1961, in which capacity he served until 1965. During his first term on city council, Bryant held the only opposing vote to the Urban Redevelopment Plan in Charlotte’s Brooklyn neighborhood. He agreed with the other city council members on the issue of destitution and poverty in the Brooklyn neighborhood and the importance of urban redevelopment, but disagreed with the council’s ideas and methods in achieving the desired goals and objectives. He sums up the interview with a statement that the urban redevelopment plan was a step in the right direction for Charlotte during the 1960s, but was not a perfect plan. Bryant was born on April 10, 1923, in Greenville, South Carolina, the son of James R. Bryant and Lillian C. Bryant. He is the husband of Frances V. Bryant, and the father of Melissa Bryant and Cameron Icard. He entered Davidson College in 1942, but left during his sophomore year to serve the United States in World War II as a B-17 pilot. Returning in 1946, Bryant resumed his courses at Davidson and graduated in 1948 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. Since 1948 he has made his career in the funeral home business, Harry and Bryant Company.Read more…

Calvin Brown Upon graduating from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Mr. Calvin L. Brown moved to the city of Charlotte in 1961 to pursue his desire to practice law. At this time, only four lawyers professionally practiced law in Charlotte and Mr. Brown added to that number increasing the count to five. He entered Charlotte during a time of great change as issues of segregation and integration were constantly being challenged and urban renewal promised to tear out the heart of a once thriving black community and ethnic enclave known as Brooklyn. During the urban renewal process, Mr. Brown aided the residents of the Brooklyn community by acting as a liaison between black property owners and the city to negotiate fair and just compensation. Mr. Brown continues to practice law today at the African Methodist Episcopal Zion (A.M.E. Zion) Publishing House that now resides on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, once known as Second Street and the heart of the Brooklyn community.Read more…

James Black was born in Brooklyn in 1942 and was a resident of the community until 1952, although he has extended family that stayed in Brooklyn through the urban renewal period. His life reflects the importance of the Brooklyn community structure, especially the guidance given to the members of the United House of Prayer for All People. In this interview, Mr. Black expresses his admiration for the role that the House of Prayer had in the community and remembers aspects of the daily operations of the church, such as businesses that operated out of the church and details of the services. In addition, Mr. Black remembers fondly the high expectations that were set for him by his parents and family, and recalls the role of the community in rearing a child. The neighborhood garden in which Mr. Black worked as a child is one manifestation of this community spirit. Mr. Black has certainly exceeded the expectations of his family and neighbors, first as a groundbreaking African-American professional golfer and currently as the founder of a non-profit organization that uses the game of golf to teach valuable life skills to at-risk children. Read more…