How did Charlotte start to grow in the beginning?
Author and local historian Tom Hanchett explores the growth of the Queen City as part of what he describes as “the New South” in "Sorting Out the New South City: Race, Class, and Urban Development in Charlotte, 1875-1975."
It's all tied up in segregation — and not just by race — but by class and wealth. According to Hanchett, much of this happened not in the 19th century, but the early 20th century.
A major part of Charlotte’s development stems from segregation, which continues to have an impact on the city's housing, education and overall infrastructure.
In this episode, we talk to Hanchett and others familiar with the impact of Charlotte’s history.
Guests:
Tom Hanchett, community historian and author of "Sorting Out the New South City: Race, Class, and Urban Development in Charlotte, 1875-1975"
Justin Perry, chair of OneMECK, a coalition advocating for equitable schools, and columnist who has spoken about impact of segregation in Charlotte, especially in education
Mary Newsom, journalist and writer, formerly of the University of North Carolina Charlotte Urban Institute
