Ivory Galloway/Niner Times
Feb. 1 marked the beginning of the 100th anniversary of Black History Month, which was originally a week-long celebration started by historian and author Carter G. Woodson, the “father of Black history,” in 1926. By the 1960s, Black History Week became a month-long celebration, and in 1986, Congress passed Public Law 99-244, which designated February as “National Black (Afro-American) History Month.”
“Black History Month is often associated with familiar icons such as Martin Luther King, Jr., Rosa Parks, Malcolm X, Harriet Tubman, yet the deeper intention is about uncovering thousands of stories once ignored: scientists, entrepreneurs, artists, academics, inventors, policy leaders, soldiers and everyday citizens who shaped the nation,” Doug Melvin wrote for Forbes. Across Charlotte, there are several landmarks, areas and people that add to the history and meaning of Black History Month in the city, both past and present. Brooklyn Village Brooklyn Village was located in what is now the Second Ward of Uptown. The neighborhood rested on the corner of Third Street and Brevard Street. The village’s roots go back to the 1860s.During that time, the neighborhood was known as “Logtown,” and it was a safe haven for recently emancipated slaves to gather together, as segregation was still widespread and legal in Charlotte. Becoming known to residents as “Brooklyn,” the village became an independent “city” within Charlotte for its Black residents. From the 1860s to the 1880s, residents began establishing their own churches, schools, businesses and more. The neighborhood grew significantly in 1886, when businessperson W.R. Myers donated land to Brooklyn Village to construct Charlotte’s first Black grade school.Additionally, in 1906, the Brevard Street Library opened in the area. It was the first free library for Black Americans in North Carolina’s history. Brooklyn Village also saw substantial growth in 1907, when the Afro-American Mutual Insurance Company, which sold policies by and for African Americans, relocated to the town. Following this, in the 1920s, a variety of Black-owned businesses, including hair salons, restaurants, drugstores, barbershops and more, were successfully established in Brooklyn Village.This provided the neighborhood’s residents with access to stores and activities they could frequent without restriction, as businesses outside of Brooklyn were legally allowed to not provide service to Black residents. In 1921, businessmen J.T. Williams and Thaddeus Tate organized the Mecklenburg Investment Company, an office building for Black dentists, lawyers, doctors and other professionals who were not allowed access to office spaces in other areas of Charlotte. This building still stands today, but the same cannot be said for the majority of Brooklyn Village. In 1958, to determine the prevalence of its “blighted” or badly damaged areas, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Planning Commission studied Brooklyn Village. This was done with the intention of receiving federal funding to “renew” the perceived blighted areas. Researchers claimed that 77% of Brooklyn housing was blighted, and these findings prompted the federal government to grant Charlotte $1,432,000 to demolish 33 acres of “slum area” and relocate “about 250 families and many small businesses.” Between 1960 and 1967, 1,007 families were displaced, and 216 businesses were closed. The majority of them never reopened. Today, only the aforementioned Mecklenburg Investment Company, Grace A.M.E. Zion Church and Second Ward High School Gymnasium of Brooklyn remain.
“Neighborhoods were bulldozed, people were relocated forcibly, businesses, churches, things of that nature, schools went away,” Dennis Lacaria, the executive director of facilities management at Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools, told WSOC-TV.Historic landmarks: a part of Charlotte’s Black History Dedicated in 1902, the Grace A.M.E. Zion Church is one of Charlotte’s oldest Black churches. In 2008, the church was added to the National Register of Historic Places.Early members of the church included Dr. John Taylor Williams and Tate.Williams was among the first three Black Americans to be licensed as a doctor in North Carolina. Additionally, he was appointed to be U.S. consul to Sierra Leone by then-President William McKinley. The historical Brevard Street building is still standing today for visitors to see, despite worship services being held elsewhere. Another historical landmark is the Second Ward High School Gymnasium. Established in 1923, the Second Ward High School was Charlotte’s first Black public high school. While the historic school was among the buildings demolished in Brooklyn’s “urban renewal,” the institution’s original gym has been preserved as a historical landmark. Furthermore, the Second Ward High School is being rebuilt as a technology magnet and medical high school. It is set to reopen in August 2028 and will be located at the same site as the historical institute. This reconstruction is fulfilling a decades-old promise to rebuild the high school. Over 50 years later, that promise is being remembered and kept. Yet, the reconstruction of Second Ward High School is not the only way Charlotte residents are honoring Black history. As happens every year, various events are being held throughout the month to honor the holiday. On Feb. 13, the Mint Museum is holding its Mint 2 Move Cultural Dance Night in honor of Black History Month.The Independent Picture House is holding a film series highlighting diverse perspectives within the Black Community. On Feb. 28, the Charlotte Museum of History is holding its annual African American Heritage Festival. This year, the festival will honor Black military members who have served their country. There are many more free or low-cost events throughout the month, which may be attributed to Charlotte’s growing diversity. Despite the displacement of African Americans due to Brooklyn’s “renewal,” Charlotte has seen a historic increase in Black residents over the last few decades. According to The Charlotte Observer, in 1970, Charlotte had 72,938 African Americans living there. By 2020, this number stood at 307,858, representing a 322% increase in the city’s Black population in just 50 years.Over 35% of Charlotteans identify as African American or Black. Furthermore, according to WalletHub, Charlotte ranked No. 8 among the most diverse cities in America and the most diverse city in North Carolina. “The most diverse cities demonstrate diversity in many dimensions, not just in race and gender but also everything from residents’ languages and birthplaces to their job types and household sizes,” Chip Lupo, WalletHub analyst, wrote in the report. “These cities blend together a multitude of different perspectives, helping people to better understand the world around them and become more empathetic. This exchange of ideas also tends to increase the economic success of diverse cities.”
