Bryant, Don, 1923-2013

Harpe, Jason

Charlotte, North Carolina

J. Murrey Atkins Library Special Collections and University Archives, University of North Carolina at Charlotte

2004-03-24

1 audio file (38:32) : digital, MP3 + 1 interview log and transcript (17 pages : PDF)

sound recording-nonmusical

spoken word

eng

Donald G. Bryant was an 81-year-old man at the time of interview. He was born in 1923 in Greenville, South Carolina. He graduated from Davidson College with a B.A. in business administration and owned and operated the funeral home JM Harry and Bryant Co. He also served on Charlotte City Council from 1961-1965.

Donald G. Bryant discusses his role as the only dissenting voice on the Charlotte City Council (1961-1965) in opposition to Charlotte's urban redevelopment plan. He agreed with the other city council members that poverty and poor living conditions in Brooklyn neighborhood, also known as Second Ward, were a problem and that urban renewal needed to take place. He disagreed with the council's methods in carrying out the urban renewal project, such as eminent domain, forcing residents to move against their wishes. Mr. Bryant also discusses broader race relations in Charlotte during the time, including the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce's involvement in integrating Charlotte's restaurants and how Fred Alexander was a respected leader among white and black citizens.

MP3 access copy created on ingest from WAV preservation master. Master file transferred from compact disc using Exact Audio Copy.

Recording is faint and difficult to hear throughout.

Undertakers and undertaking
City council members

Bryant, Don, 1923-2013
Veeder, Bill (William), 1923 or 1924-2011
Brookshire, Stanford R., 1905-1990
Alexander, Frederick Douglas, 1910-1980

Charlotte (N.C.). City Council
Charlotte Redevelopment Commission

Urban renewal
African American business enterprises
African American neighborhoods
Segregation
Political and social views
Political participation
City councils
City council members
Cities and towns--Growth
City managers

North Carolina--Charlotte
North Carolina--Charlotte--Brooklyn
North Carolina--Charlotte--Second Ward

Interviews
Oral histories

1960-2010

Student project on Second Ward

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audio/mpeg

Bill Veeder oral history interview, 2004 April 4, 2004 September 4, J. Murrey Atkins Library Special Collections and University Archives, University of North Carolina at Charlotte (https://goldmine.uncc.edu/islandora/object/uncc%3A2678); John Thrower oral history interview, 2004 September 4, J. Murrey Atkins Library Special Collections and University Archives, University of North Carolina at Charlotte (https://goldmine.uncc.edu/islandora/object/uncc%3A2675); Vernon Sawyer oral history interview, 2004 April 19, J. Murrey Atkins Library Special Collections and University Archives, University of North Carolina at Charlotte (https://goldmine.uncc.edu/islandora/object/uncc%3A2676)

Charlotte Redevelopment Commission records, MS0350, J. Murrey Atkins Library Special Collections and University Archives, University of North Carolina at Charlotte (https://goldmine.uncc.edu/islandora/object/mss%3Acharred)

OH-BR0373