Where We've Been

Follow along with me as I explore this quirk of Charlotte, NC called the Wedge and Crescent and how its existence exemplifies the wealth gap in the city!

Nestled between North Tryon Street and I-85 is one of Charlotte’s most infamous neighborhoods. While that is not the most accurate way to describe the neighborhood today, Hidden Valley’s recent past still hangs over the community. When development beginning in 1959, Hidden Valley was initially intended to house white middle class families. But with the destruction of neighborhoods like Brooklyn and the construction of freeways around Uptown carving up communities, many of Charlotte’s Blacks found refuge across the city. However, due to racism and lies, the influx of Black residents led to large swaths of the neighborhood’s white residents to move away; causing the city to ignore and neglect the neighborhood for decades. This neglect left Hidden Valley with a nationally bad reputation. But in recent years, things may be changing. With the completion of the Blue Line extension and the hard work of the Hidden Valley Community Association, the area surrounding Hidden Valley has seen more economic activity, development, and attention. But with all this happening, will Hidden Valley be able to maintain its identity, or will it change and gentrify like Southend? Or can Charlotte learn from its past? Stick around and while we explore Hidden Valley! With special guest, Frederick Murphy. 

Website

Sources:

About Us (hiddenvalleyclt.com)

Suburban growth, government policies, racism led to 'white flight' in Newark | Video | NJ Spotlight News

http://www.thecharlottepost.com/index.php?src=permalinks/Hidden_Valley_out_front_in_mounting_comeback#:~:text=Developed%20in%201959%2C%20Hidden%20Valley,Neighborhood%20Quality%20of%20Life%20Index.

https://www.wsoctv.com/news/9-investigates/hidden-valley-residents-continue-to-improve-neighborhood-s-reputation/822465035/

Black Homeowners Face Discrimination in Appraisals - The New York Times (nytimes.com)

Blacks will take hundreds of years to catch up to white wealth (cnn.com)

Report Confirms Charlotte's Lack Of Upward Mobility, Offers Priorities | WFAE 90.7 - Charlotte's NPR News Source

Brookhill: How one of Charlotte’s most complicated and misunderstood developments could end up a success story - Axios Charlotte

FAQ City: What Happened To Charlotte's Earle Village? | WFAE 90.7 - Charlotte's NPR News Source

Home Again Foundation - Housing, Nonprofit, Charitable Organization (homeagainclt.org)

Intro and Outro music - By a Thread by Nu Alkemi$t

Social Media:

Wherewehavebeen.com

Where We've Been | Facebook

Where We've Been US | Instagram 

Rickey Hall and Ismaail Qaiyim join in for a discussion on the importance of community organizing in Black neighborhoods and other issues facing the west-side of Charlotte.

Show Notes:

Intro Music – The Souse Don by Sam Barsh

Outro Music – Oceanscraper by xJWill

Situated in Charlotte’s Second Ward, Brooklyn was downhill from Uptown. In the late 18-hundreds, the area was known as Logtown; a place where recently emancipated slaves took up residence. As the 20th began, the population was solidly African American. And It was not until the mid-1910s that Logtown would become generally known as Brooklyn. Brooklyn started to develop into a thriving, self-sustaining community. The neighborhood’s housing supply ranged from shanty towns to the grand homes of black professionals. Where Biddleville was centered around higher education and was an bordering area of the city, Brooklyn was the Main Street for Charlotte’s African Americans. Many important landmarks in the community include the Myers Street School (Charlotte’s first black public school 1886-1907), the city’s black YMCA, a Library for blacks, and much more.

Sources:

Charlotte Magazine – Memories of Brooklyn

Charlotte Brooklyn History

UNCC Brooklyn Story

Fox 46 Charlotte Youtube – Charlotte’s Lost Neighborhood 

Mecklenburg Investment Company Building

Brevard Street Library

UNCC Digital Collections: Brooklyn

Charlotte Oberser - Black History Month: Charlotte’s vanishing historic sites

Royalty Free Music – They Might Not by Puddle of Infinity

Sound Effects by SoundGator

Explore life a peek into what life was for recently freed blacks in the United States after the Civil War, what measures were passed to remove the chains of bondage and oppression. And how Jim Crow and racist tropes became ingrained in southern politics before the end of the 18th century. Visit www.WhereWeHaveBeen.com for more information and sources. 

Music: RSPN by Blank & Kytt

Follow along as we explore the history and future of Biddleville; a neighborhood in Charlotte's historic West-end. See how Civil Rights icons changed Charlotte and how local residents are trying to deal with changing dynamics in the community.  

Visit www.WhereWeHaveBeen.com for more information and sources. 

Music: RSPN by Blank & Kytt

Explore the rich history of Biddleville; a neighborhood in Charlotte's historic West-end. From the very beginning to the middle of the 20th century, from movie theaters to lunch counter sit-ins. 

Visit www.wherewehavebeen.com for more information.

Music by Podington Bear

Follow me as I explore the history behind some of Charlotte, North Carolina's oldest neighborhoods and how they have changed over time.