G. Jackson Burney oral history interview, 1997 September 4

Description

Charlottean G. Jackson Burney discusses his career in the communications industry, his family, and his volunteer work. He contracted polio at a young age and discusses throughout the interview how the disease impacted his life. Mr. Burney describes how he studied communications at UNC Chapel Hill, then began working at WBT Radio as a promotions manager in the late 1940s. He also recounts his volunteer activities, and highlights going to Washington, D.C., as part of an effort launched by President Jimmy Carter to address economic issues. Mr. Burney steadily progressed in his career and began working for the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce in the 1970s as the head of a new research department. He describes how around the late 1980s, he was dismissed from his position from the Chamber. He filed a lawsuit for discrimination based on age and settled out of court. Other topics discussed in the interview include Mr. Burney's lifelong interest in music, racist opinions held by his parents, and how uptown Charlotte has changed from the 1950s to the time of interview.