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The Purposeful Walk
A Component of The Pearl: Charlotte's Innovation District
Today, Brooklyn's legacy is a cornerstone for generations of Black Charlotteans.
From the 1890s through the 1950s, Brooklyn was a thriving, self-sustaining Black community, complete with homes, businesses, shops, schools, churches, and entertainment. Charlotte leaders demolished Brooklyn during urban renewal projects in the 1960s and 1970s.
The destinations featured on the map are an outcome of conversations with former residents and their descendants. It provides a starting point for Brooklyn’s story.
Storytelling Signs
The Pearl invites you to explore the connections between past, present, and future. Now home to a state-of-the-art health and innovation campus, this area was once home to a vibrant Black neighborhood called Brooklyn.
Throughout the Pearl, interpretive panels tell the story of Brooklyn in collaboration with the people who called it home. Each panel explores how Brooklyn's story echoes that of many other Black communities across the U.S. That same spirit of connection is present in Pearl Street Park itself. The streets and pedestrian pathways reach out beyond the park's borders into the surrounding city.
Additional Components of the Purposeful Walk
Sankofa
Learn from the Past. Inform The Future.
Sankofa (SAHN-koh-fah) is a Twi word from the Akan tribe of Ghana, translating to "Go back and get it." It encourages us to take lessons from the past to build a bright future.
Collaborations and Contributions
The result of a 3-year collaboration, the Purposeful Walk is a ribbon that reconnects the community of Brooklyn to its historic and cultural roots. It connects historic 2nd Ward to Pearl Street Park through authentic storytelling that honors the community. As it weaves through The Pearl it is activated by art installations, gathering spaces, and narratives from Brooklyn residents that once lived here. As the walk continues, it interweaves national and local stories to bring context to the shared struggles faced across the nation. It is these rich histories, stories, and memories, both joyful and tearful, that form the foundation of a living museum that aims to inspire both the current and future generations.
A huge thank you to all collaborators:
- The Brooklyn Community
- Brooklyn Coalition
- The Brooklyn Collective
- Second Ward High School National Alumni Foundation
- Pearl Community Advisory Council
- Wake Forest University School of Medicine
- Carolinas College of Health Sciences
- Charlotte-Mecklenburg Black Heritage Committee
- Charlotte Mecklenburg Library
- Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
- City of Charlotte
- Mecklenburg County
- Cherry Community
- Dilworth Community
- UNC Charlotte
- Johnson C. Smith University
- NextUp STEM Lab
- Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture
- Levine Museum of the New South
- The Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
- The National Memorial for Peace and Justice
- Advocate Health
- Atrium Health
- IRCAD North America
- Charlotte Is Creative
- Wexford Science + Technology
- Ayers Saint Gross
- Gallagher Design
- Kimley-Horn
- Neighboring Concepts
- R.J. Leeper Construction
- SouthWood Corporation
- The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company
Your support helps the Gantt present exceptional exhibitions, leading scholars and engaging programs that celebrate the African-American story.