Unmasked: Change From The Inside

We culminate our voting series in a candid conversation with Harvey B. Gantt.

As we round out our Unmasked voting series, we welcome the expertise of two of the most prominent Black political figures in the Carolinas. Our insitution's namesake and former two-term mayor of Charlotte, Harvey B. Gantt, and Congressman James E. Clyburn reflect on race and influence in the sphere of politics. Their positions as esteemed public servants have allowed them to impact far beyond their immediate constituents, casting an echo in policies that affect our community today. The breadth of their careers can ignite us to collectively appoint leaders who have that same capacity to effect change.

Learn more about Mr. Gantt here.

We start by exploring their history in politics–how race shaped their journeys as Black politicians, and the tools to sustain a diversified career in government. We then delve into the current political climate of our nation, specifically discussing the role civic leaders play in issues such as Black Lives Matter and Defund the Police. Gantt and Clyburn will finally weigh in on COVID-19 and its unequal impact on the Black community from an administrative perspective, citing the pivotal role we play in selecting officials who will respond to crises adeptly. Join us to hear these two leaders' experience and years of wisdom as we examine the present and look to a better future.

The dialogue will be facilitated by Erica Bryant, Emmy Award winning journalist and co-anchor of WSOC-TV Channel 9 Eyewitness News.

Viewing this program is free and open to the public. To chat during the program and contribute your perspective, you will need a YouTube account with a Gmail email address prior to the program. If you do not have a YouTube account, click here for a step-by-step tutorial on creating a YouTube account.

Click/tap names below to read bios.

• Harvey B. Gantt

  Harvey Bernard Gantt grew up in the 1940s and 50s in then-segregated Charleston, South Carolina. As the oldest child of Wilhelmina and Christopher Gantt, he often attended NAACP meetings with his father. It was there, and at the family dinner table with his four sisters, that he began to appreciate the importance of advocacy and the injustice of racial discrimination.

  After graduating second in his class from Burke High School in 1960, Gantt left home to study architecture at Iowa State University. In January 1963, after a legal battle that escalated to the U.S. 4th Circuit Court of Appeals, Gantt became the first African-American student accepted at Clemson University. In September 1963, Lucinda Brawley became the first African-American woman to be admitted to Clemson and in October 1964 married Harvey. Harvey Gantt graduated with honors from Clemson in 1965, earning a Bachelor's degree in Architecture and later a Master of City Planning from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

  He moved to Charlotte after graduating from MIT, and, in 1971, co-founded Gantt Huberman Architects. A pioneer in blending urban planning with the practice of architecture, Gantt Huberman employed a diverse group of professionals who were charged with designing buildings that encourage community. As a result, the firm has developed some of the city's most iconic landmarks, including the Charlotte Transportation Center, TransAmerica Square, ImaginOn, Friendship Missionary Baptist Church, and the Johnson C. Smith University Science Center.

  While significant, Gantt's impact on the city extends beyond improving the built environment. He joined Charlotte City Council in 1974 and again broke barriers when he was elected Charlotte’s first African-American mayor in 1983. Remaining in office for two terms, Gantt stood shoulder-to-shoulder with other Charlotte leaders committed to establishing a New South City.

  Gantt continues to advocate for equity and equal rights and is often tapped to serve on civic, cultural, and business boards, and to lead philanthropic efforts and community initiatives. In 2009, the former Afro-American Cultural Center opened its doors to a new, award-winning facility and was renamed the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture in honor of Harvey B. Gantt, an American trailblazer.

• Congressman James E. Clyburn

  James E. Clyburn is the Majority Whip, the third-ranking Democrat in the United States House of Representatives, and currently serves as the Chairman of the House Select Committee on the Coronavirus Crisis. He is also the Chairman of the Rural Broadband Task Force and Democratic Faith Working Group.

  When he came to Congress in 1993 to represent South Carolina's sixth congressional district, Congressman Clyburn was elected co-president of his freshman class and quickly rose through leadership ranks. He was subsequently elected Chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, Vice Chairman, and later Chairman, of the House Democratic Caucus. He previously served as Majority Whip from 2007 to 2011 and served as Assistant Democratic Leader from 2011 to 2019.

  As a national leader, he has championed rural and economic development and many of his initiatives have become law. His 10-20-30 federal funding formula was included in four sections of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Congressman Clyburn is also a passionate supporter of historic preservation and restoration programs. His efforts have restored scores of historic buildings and sites on the campuses of historically black colleges and universities. His legislation created the South Carolina National Heritage Corridor and the Gullah/Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor, elevated the Congaree National Monument to a National Park, and established the Reconstruction Era National Monument in South Carolina's Lowcountry.

  Congressman Clyburn's humble beginnings in Sumter, South Carolina as the eldest son of an activist, fundamentalist minister and an independent, civic-minded beautician grounded him securely in family, faith and public service. His memoir, Blessed Experiences: Genuinely Southern, Proudly Black, was published in 2015, and has been described ‎as a primer that should be read by every student interested in pursuing a career in public service.

  Congressman Clyburn and his late wife, Emily England Clyburn, met as students at South Carolina State and were married for 58 years. They are the parents of three daughters; Mignon Clyburn, Jennifer Reed, and Angela Hannibal and four grandchildren.

• Erica Bryant

  Erica Bryant is an Emmy Award winning journalist. She currently co-anchors WSOC-TV Channel 9 Eyewitness News weeknights at 5 pm, 6 pm, and 11 pm. She previously worked for WCBD-TV in Charleston, South Carolina, and WHNS-TV in Greenville, South Carolina.

  Erica earned her degree in Journalism and Mass Communications from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

  Erica is passionate about volunteering in the community and focuses on issues facing disadvantaged women and children. She previously served on the board of Safe Alliance which runs the Mecklenburg County Domestic Violence Shelter. Erica is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and Crown Jewels Chapter of the Links, Inc. She is also a member of the Charlotte Chapter of Jack and Jill. Erica lives in Charlotte with her husband and two children.