tor Upcoming Book
Students Interviewing Charlotteans
Who Formerly Lived In First Ward
By Teresa Simmons
Post Man aging Editor
When Nancy Jones and Debbie
Full bright first wrote their tarm
paper for the UNCC course
“Planning For Charlotte’s Future’’
they never envisioned their 19 page
phper would turn into a book.
But the procesa has begun and
with the help of 71 students at First
Ward Elementary, many of the
teachers and the school's principal,
a book about the history, present and
a look into the future of Charlotte’s
First Ward area is now underway.
"Students from First Ward
Elementary School will be
interviewing folks from all over
Charlotte who have lived in the
First Ward area at one time or
another," Mrs. Fullbright released.
Groups usually meet in two-hour
sessions with a time for reminiscing
and answering questions posed by
the children and coordinators. "We
ask the students to have two or three
questions in mind and the Interviews
are always taped," noted Mrs.
Jones.
Excerpts from each interview will
be used in the book, to be published
by the Charlotte Mecklenburg
School System in conjunction with
First Ward School’s 85th
anniversary celebration in April.
That dhki’t give Fullbright or
Jones a great deal of time for organ
ization. But they seem, to have
tackled the problems of limit**! time
well.
AACC Presents
Rosa Parks Awards
Rosa L. Parks, Mother of the
Modern Freedom Movement, was
honored in Charlotte recently during
a “Black History Month
Celebration” at McDonald’s
Cafeteria.
During the banquet, at which Mrs.
Parks Was guest speaker, It was
announced that the Afro-American
Cultural Center (AACC) had
established “The Rosa Parks
Award,” which will be presented
annually during Black History
month. -\-v A V. ;
The large plaque bears an
engraving, as weH as a picture of the
woman who Dr. Martin Luther King
*•'‘,the greatest fuse that led
the modern stride toward freedom.”
Rwill be placed on permanent
St the new borne of me
The inscription reads: "The' Afrv
American Cultural Center honors
the following persons who have
exemplified unselfish courage,
dignity and determination
in working for equality,
understanding, and brotherhood
among all persons.”
The IMS honorees are Rev.
Coleman. W. Kerry Jr., James K.
Polk, and James L. Ramil.
Rev. Kerry, former pastor 6f
Friendship Baptist Church, was the
first Black person to serve in an
appointed position on the Charlotte
Mecklenburg School Board. He
encouraged and inspired many
young people nlot only in the
community, but in use ministry as
welL In presenting his award,
posthumously, ft was said, "God
gave us a man as this time demands,
a greet heart, ready hands. We
commemorate his memory.
James K. Polk pioneered many of
the early Civil Rights efforts in
Charlotte, lie has long been
caaouragd about Blacks obtaining
employment in every segment of the
work force, and has always had a
teal for encouraging the training
SITSB&VB'U
involvement M the political life *£!
the city Sod state. In the late 50’s Mr.
toMmdas
th«ft were many tSSengmandhe
neffer ceased to mdet them with
dignity and commitment. His
greatness has made him great.”
Jafqes L. Ross grew up in
Charlotte's Griertown community.
In his youthhe was the epitomy
of 's "Young,
Gifted and Black ” Working at the
Charlotte Bureau on Employment,
Training and Placement, Rosa
challenged the corporate
community by seeking |*ba for his
—.—~::'*** ~,,,V -
people. His determined persistence
never faltered, even when on one
occasion a prospective employer to
whom he was making a proposal
refused to even permit him to sit in a
chair. Ross was so determined that
he stood in the middle of the man’s
office to make his presentation for
equality in employment.
With the same determination,
Ross helped to organize- marches
.and candlelight vigils, and sat down
in restaurants where he knew be was
not welcomed. He became the
youngest man named to the Mayor’s
Committee, later to become the
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Community
Relations Committee.
4 •:* i
In honoring Rom, it was said,
“This warm, generous and caring
man is nottone who is permanently
attached to his fighting gear, but
certainly one who rims to the
occasion with understanding,
compassion, determiastion,
courage, and a keen sense of insight
and intelligence.'’
Each year during Black History
Month at least one person’s nune
will be added to the “Rosa Parks
Award" plaque, and will be honored
at a special event.
According to Dr. E.E. Waddell,
chairman of the AACC Board of
Directors, “This is our way of
expressing sincere appreciation to
both Mrs. Parks and persons who
have made significant, though often
unlauded, contributlbns to our city
and state. We are proud to honor
these persons.”
• ft.
I
Read The Post
Every Week
For An I
• Enlightening
View Of Your
Community.
3760496
The process of interviewing 15 to
30 parties is going along smoothly.
During one meeting held February
10 in the library of First Ward those
who had been involved with First
Ward in one way or another proudly
reflected their memories. Many
young faces gleamed as stories were
told of school teachers years ago or
how the First Ward neighborhood
once appeared.
In the 1920’s the streets of First
Ward were lined with elegant man
sions. In 1967 Earle Village Homes, a
409 unit public housing project was
erected. The Mack residential core
of First Ward had been bulldozed.
Today 90 percent of the individuals
living in First Ward are black.
During earlier time* the political
Ward was racially mixed in a har
monious tradition.
Unsafe conditions such as poor
lighting and the widening of 7th
street have haunted the residents
according to Jones and Fullbright.
Both interviewed several present
day First Ward residents to find-out
their attitudes. Their paper titled
“First Ward: Yesterday, Today and
Tomorrow’’ vividly describes the
feelings of the residents: “The
public housing residents spend the
vast amount; of their time in just
attempting to survive therefore,
leaving little time or thought for
outside activities.”
This, Jones and Fullbright
contends, is one reason why a strong
neighborhood organizational
network has not formed among the
residents.
The paper went on to say
“Residents are pessimistic
concerning what a neighborhood
organization could do for them. They
greatly fear the authorities will
resent their involvement in such an
organization and will therefore,
further neglect their needs or
actually move them out." 3
The structural face-lift of down
town hasn’t done much for the
nearly 1,500 residents of Earle
Village, Jones and Fullbright
expressed. “We would like to see the
people’s needs taken care of instead
of the downtown area just looking
good,” they continued.
Thus the book has a multi-fold
purpose. Not only. are the
elementary students able to parti
cipate in history documentation, but
perhaps the book will promote a
strong neighborhood organization.
“We want the residents of First
Ward to be proud ofthefr arte,” Mrs.
Jones reflected. “There js Jp much
potential there and First ward is
extremely rich in history.’^ ,
. --—•—— ■* '4x. ■ ■■ ■-»■■■ / f
’ * T ’ :---—
tW Little Mb. Valentine Pageant of IMS .bowed an
array of Mg talent from* lot of little ladle, recently at
Greenville Community Center. Sponsored annually bv
tbe Parks and Recreation Department, young ladies
from ages S to 7 are featured. Sheryl Gould was
crowned queen of the pageant. 8he is tbe daughter of
Douglas and Linda Gould and represented Methodist
T“ I
American Legioi} Holding Statewide Sprkig Conference
February 22,23, and 24, will taring
hundreds of members of The Ame
rican Legion, The American Legion
Auxiliary and the Forty 4 Eight to
the Marriott Hotel, Executive Park,
Charlotte, North Carolina for the
annual statewide Spring Conference
it was announced today by C. Keith 1
Sink, State Adjutant for the 41,000 '
member veterans organizations.
The Conference activities will be
gin Friday, February 22 with some
24 Department Commission and
Committee meetings scheduled
throughout the day. It will resume
Saturday morning with meetings to
be followed by the final session of the
Department Executive Committee
at 1 p.m. The Conference will be
under the direction of State Com
mander Harvey W. Hall of King,
N.C. and all meetings and activities
wil be held at the Mariott Hotel,
Executive Pat*, Charlotte.
Clarence Bacon, The National
Commander of The American Le
gion and ftelen Gardner, The Ameri
can Legion Auxiliary National Pre
sident will be the guests of honor at
the Spring Conference. The Na
tional Commander and National
President pay an annual visit to * North Carolina. ':
---—--- V
■ ■ WHAT’S .
BLACK AND WHITE
-0-J AND READ
Hi ALLOVER?
BwCktHaMefwt
the Black Commaalty’’
MARTIN. HEMPHILL * MILLER
ATTORNEYS AT LAW
ARE PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT \
NELWYNJ. MCDUFFIE i
HAS JOINED THE FIRM AS PARTNER
AND THAT THE FIRM WILL CONTINUE PRACTICE
UNDER THE NAME
Martin, Hemphill, Miller^ McDuffie
James A. Martin *' '
' r: 'v :' Randy E. Hemphill \
Randy L. Miller
NelwynJ. McDuffie
!town Center Corporate Square, Suite G
2258 Roosevelt Boulevard
treet P.O.Box 1247
* Monroe, NC 28110
.28232 (704) 280-8401 or
(704)332-3879
alSahitelbSpring
The calendar may still say winter.,. but each
year, one month ahead of schedule we bring
you face to &ce with Springtime.. .and all it
- has to offer:
Glorious Gardens filled wifh daffodils,
tulips, and beautiful time-ssven for your own
gardens, decks and yards. Thera’s even a
Hawaiian garden boated by WETf Radio.
Designer Rooms fresh as a Spring day.
Eighteen rooms by the area’s top designers,
• with the latest fabrics, furnishings and
decorating innovations. There’s a circular
sunroom with antique beveled glass and a
stained glass mural. And, many of the rooms
were inspired by celebrities like Dean Smith,
Ty Boyd and Bill Walker
Orchids by the hundreds in exotic settings
created by the Piedmont Carolinas Orchid
Society.
A Gardener's Marketplace where shy
violets share the limelight with lots of loftier
plants, seeds and shrubs at special show
prices.
.V Jtk’ ** ’ . . ‘
Patios, Sun Porches, Gazebo* and
Greenhouse* furnished with style and pizazz
to help you with your own favorite relaxing
spot.
Flower Arrangements, Room Niches,
Horticulture and more in the Charlotte
Council of Garden Club’s show within the
show.
Ancient Bonsai trees and newer Bonsai
plants. And, a chance to learn how to train
your own Bonsai.
Craft* for your home, from Pennsylvania
Dutch pottery, basketry, weavings, wonderful
wooden works and the things that heirlooms
are made from.
Travel and Recreation are always
priorities... So plan to get help with the kids
camp, your- own private adventure or a luxury
vacation. ’ ■..
Lawn and Garden Equipment, Spas,
Swimming Pools, European and traditional
kitchens, Energy saving appliances and ideas.
Handsome accessories for afl through the
house.
Enter the WSOC/Codardalo Log Homo
Kit Giveaway. Tour the custom-designed
2,000 sq. ft. model sponsored by Piodmont
Natural Gao ami decorated by Designer
Sandy Bourke. Visit the WSOC “Celebrity
Deck” aad meet your fisvorite WSOC-TV
and WSOC AM/PM personalities!
February 23 thru March 3,1985
.Charlotte Merchandise Mart
• i. ' ur* * ' ■ • 1 j 5
IW» /A« year called the Southern Living Show
to*
excluding group*,
BENEFIT NIGHT TICKETS (Feb 22) for
PLACE art 129 each (tax deductible donation) and ioc
am Rase clip end mail to WW,'
■ SOUTHERN SPRING SHOW,
■ Bor 36859, Charlotte, NC 38236
m Please tend:
mm- Adult tichets 013.50 ea.
•_Student tichets (age 6-18) 0 82 ea.
: ■ ---Benefit tichets (make check payable
to Discovery Place) 0 825 ea.
™ Checks for general admission show tickets \ ]
!^s"sgr,“'“S0UTHE,,N _
_ Check enclosed in the amount of I _ ■_
5 Mail tickets to ■
* S,m» . • _V____ ■
5 Addmr I-_-j~I
® Citr'StawiZip’ . . - . ^ 9
■ Please enclose tramped-addreased envelope. ■
■■■■■■■■■■■■■■a
(Mt rhn reminder out eep it where you can see it and knmi ... SPRING IS ON THE WAY/