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Leaders
The Purposeful Walk
In ways large and small, Brooklyn’s leaders worked to improve the lives of their community members.
Listen to the recordings below.
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Interviewee: Spencer Singleton
Topics: Teachers as important community members; Second Ward High School's Music Director, Mr. Copper as a father figure, playing in the Second Ward Stage Band, singing popular music and playing for the community to "keep out of trouble" in the 1960s
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Interviewee: Mary Louise Lightsey
Topics: Building Friendship Baptist Church, Dr. Williams, leadership of the Alexander family, Zechariah Alexander as Sunday school teacher, schoolteachers as important community members
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Interviewee: Arthur Griffin, Jr.
Topics: Librarian Allegra Westbrooks and the "book-mobile" mobile library, Second Ward High School, sports in Pearl Street Park, leadership and legacy of Bertha Maxwell-Roddey
Many people contributed their time and their memories of Brooklyn to help bring this exhibit to life, including our community storytellers.
Voices of the Purposeful Walk: Learn more about our storytellers below.
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Interviewee: Arthur Griffin, Jr.
Topics: The Griffin family, Arthur Griffin, Jr.'s career, changes in Charlotte from 1950s-1980s.
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Interviewee: Reverend Janet Garner-Mullins
Topics: Brooklyn Coalition, Rev. Garner-Mullins' friends and family, Brooklyn's destruction
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Interviewee: Jacqueline Stowe
Topics: Stowe's family on Beaver Alley in the 1950s
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Interviewee: Mamie Faulkner Cuthbertson
Topics: Father's barbershop in Brooklyn, working as a courier in Charlotte, visiting Sears and Roebuck store
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Interviewee: Marvin Price
Topics: Grier Heights community, Price's family
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Interviewee: Mary Louise Lightsey
Topics: Brooklyn streets and alleys, Blue Heaven, St. Paul's Baptist Church, Lightsey family
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Interviewee: Mary S. Singleton
Topics: Singleton's family, walking to Second Ward High School, interacting with neighbors and friends, meeting her husband
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Interviewee: Spencer Singleton
Topics: Blue Heaven, parents' employment, Third Ward, meeting his wife
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