The City of Charlotte is commemorating the work of the city’s Legacy Commission through a documentary film about the commission’s work.
This Loyd Visuals film exhibits the year-long effort to rename nine streets in Charlotte that honored slave owners, champions of the Confederacy and proponents of white supremacy.
The documentary also showcases the work of the City of Charlotte, in collaboration with the Legacy Commission and our community to reflect our city’s values of inclusivity and diversity. This work began with the mayor’s charge to form a Legacy Commission, which has evolved and come full circle thanks to our community.
Commemoration is about the present. We choose to honor someone with Putting up a statue
or naming a street or school Because they embody some value
that we honor, that we celebrate. And so many of the street names here Don't reflect the values
that we hold today. Stonewall and Barringer, Jefferson Davis
and others, These individuals promoted
hatred and racism and discrimination. And so as I sit here as a council member
looking at Charlotte And how progressive it should be,
it makes me more determined to ensure That we as a community begin
to honor those individuals That reflect our morals and values
as we move forward. Today is about unifying our city. We know that this represents
positive change. We know that it represents the willingness To examine who we are and to move forward. And we wanted to demonstrate
that as a city, we were supportive Of a lot of the things
that were being voiced in the street. United We stand, United we fall, United
we stand, United We fall, United we stand, United
we fall, United we stand, United we fall I was heartbroken When I saw that
the tape of George Floyd's death, I was heartbroken when I saw the killing
of the the gentleman in Minnesota Or the young man
jogging and was run down and killed. The issue in our community
and our nation of racism And hatred and discrimination is real. And we were having this discussion about
we need to make changes. Right. And the mayor in her wisdom, say,
well, on this, Make sure that we have a process
so that we can have community buy in. We didn't want to create something
that people would be against. We wanted to create a momentum for. And in that respect, I was able
To appoint the legacy Commission. So I'm going to go ahead and get started. It's a rather long presentation. The Commission of individuals
who understood Charlotte's History, historians, residents, scholars
identifying streets That bear names
that we might want to take a look at. Jefferson Davis Street,
named for the president Of the Confederate States of America
from 1861 to 1865. A lot of changes
they made throughout Charlotte, period. So I'm glad they're actually starting
with the street Name changes and stuff
like that in these different areas. Phifer Avenue. One of the largest
slave owners in the city. He hosted the last meeting
of the Confederate cabinet. Cameron A Morrison, was a prominent leader
of the Red Shirts that worked To suppress and terrorize black voters
in North Carolina In the late 1890s. Aycock Lane. He was a primary architect of the state's
White supremacy movement. Stonewall Street and Jackson Avenue Were named for Thomas Stonewall Jackson, The Confederate general. This robust community engagement
where we're going out To these various communities, access them
their preference in terms of street Names for me to get involved with
this was a great opportunity When I heard about it. I went and made my own little flyer
and went door to door on Jefferson Davis Street to say, Hey, They're having a meeting about the change
that's going to happen to the city Will provide the historical context
on Barringer Drive. And my back story has been prioritized. And then we'll provide the implementation
schedule for your information And for feedback. The recommendations that
the Legacy Commission made was informed
By the feedback we had received
from almost 1500 residents. A team of us Canvass door to door to collect ballots
answered questions or encourage voting. Are you familiar with the possible
renaming of Jackson Avenue? Yeah. We allowed everybody to submit
three choices and rank their choices. We review the names,
I submit them to the committees And we approve based on what
the neighborhood suggests. One or two streets at a time. Engage
the people who live on those streets And engage the businesses
that are located on the streets To help them through that transition
period of having your street name change And get a sense of what A new name that people can embrace
and be proud of would be. A legacy… It means Preserving something That other people can Find out about with pride. My community was Good Samaritan. Good Samaritan was the oldest hospital
for people of color in North Carolina. We had black doctors, surgeons,
urologists, pediatricians, And it was an important
icon in the Charlotte Community. It's Also an emotional thing To look at that sign and remember
some of the things that Good Samaritan Stood for and did for the community. Feel like it's a different outlook,
replacing the old history, The bad or whatever. And just kind of bringing like a new light
in this area, today's unveiling Represents positive change
and a step in the right direction. This is a reminder that we are dedicated
to reimagining civic spaces And creating new symbolic mascot
that all Charlotteans can be proud of. And that's why we will rename the street
Druid Hills Way.
I like the change. We had the first House up on … At the end of the street, 2401. When we Were growing up, teenagers
we would say “Wow They named this street
Jefferson Davis in the black neighborhood. Initially,
when it was built, it was built for GIs That were coming home from the war. So it was a primarily white neighborhood. And then as time went on, it transitioned
and it became a primarily African-American community. And imagine someone who was opposed To your free existence Honored up there in the street. So that is the first name
that got changed. Any Neighborhood Leaders here? Well lets… come on. To make that change. I think it's just indicative of
the changes that are happening in the city Where people are not afraid to speak up. They're not afraid to voice their opinion
and say, hey, this is wrong. And we know that's
how it was done in the past. But things change
and societal views change. As a historian,
I look at some of the big mistakes We've made over time,
but one that comes immediately To mind is demolition of the Brooklyn
neighborhood and urban renewal. And that's one of the great tragedies
of Charlotte, is the flattening Of that neighborhood
without listening to the people involved. A lot of historians
talk a lot about the place. Brooklyn was more than just a place. Brooklyn was a lifestyle. Brooklyn had a soul. And we absolutely appreciate
all of the work that's gone Into trying to keep those memories alive. Let me begin by telling you
That it's an honor to be here this morning
to celebrate this historic occasion. A paid tribute to the African American
hero, the Montford Point Marines. We applaud the city of Charlotte
with the purpose of honoring trailblazers Who dare to want to be a Marine at a time
when African-Americans Were excluded from the Marine Corps. It's valuable that our stories are told So that people can learn and understand Our paths and where we have come from. I think those are the kinds of names And the kinds of individuals
we need to celebrate because they reflect The hard work that we need to do now
to build a more inclusive city. We're a large metropolitan area where
the 15th largest city in the country. And that's why I think it's
really important for the city of Charlotte To acknowledge its past and try to provide Corrective action as we move forward. We are a diverse city
and we want everyone to feel respected. The generations that follow us should look
back and say, You did the right thing. She laid the foundation for the next step.
Charlotte North Carolina – Life, Sports, and Weather
Events
Charlotte offers everything a newcomer could want, from a mix of historical elegance and modern high-tech to the latest restaurants and cafes. Whether it’s Vietnamese Pho on one corner or traditional Southern BBQ sandwiches on another, the Queen City is a melting pot of cultures and people who blend to make the perfect city for anyone.
Life, Sports, Weather
The climate in Charlotte is humid subtropical, with hot and muggy summers and chilly, damp winters. The average temperature is between 42 and 79 degrees Fahrenheit, though it can get up to 90 degrees in the summer.
Daylength varies significantly throughout the year with the shortest day being December 21 and the longest being June 21. The average number of hours during which the Sun is visible varies between 9.5 and 14 hours.
Rainfall varies between 0.8 and 3.3 inches per month with an average of 1.3 inches. The heaviest precipitation falls on July.
Humidity varies between 48% and 71% of the time with an average of 52%. The muggier period lasts for 4.3 months, from May 22 to September 30, during which time the comfort level is muggy, oppressive, or miserable at least 20% of the time.
News
Crime is low in the area, with most residents reporting feeling safe and happy. The crime rate varies based on the neighborhood, but there are some areas of the city where you should be wary of walking alone.