Patton, Connie, 1925-

Bemis, Robert

Charlotte, North Carolina

J. Murrey Atkins Library Special Collections and University Archives, University of North Carolina at Charlotte

2007-04-02

1 audio file (28:53) : digital, MP3

sound recording-nonmusical

spoken word

eng

Connie Patton was an 82-year-old man at the time of interview, which took place in his home in Charlotte, North Carolina. He was born in Charlotte in 1925. He was educated at Second Ward High School and Carver College, and was employed as a postal worker, a baggage handler and as a petty officer in the U.S. Navy.

Charlotte, North Carolina native Connie Patton recounts growing up in the the Brooklyn neighborhood of Charlotte, also known as Second Ward. He shares his memories of playing football and baseball with other children, churches, businesses, and joining the ROTC at Second Ward High School. Mr. Patton describes joining the Navy after high school, becoming a petty officer, and not being able to rise further in rank because of racial discrimination and limited roles for African Americans at the time. He also touches on how urban renewal in Charlotte during the 1960s and 1970s affected the Brooklyn community and points out that there was high-quality housing in Brooklyn as well as rundown shotgun houses.

MP3 access copy created on ingest from WAV preservation master. Digital recording transferred to the library.

Low sound.

Postal service--Employees
Soldiers

Patton, Connie, 1925-

United House of Prayer for All People
Second Ward High School (Charlotte, N.C.)
United States. Army. Reserve Officers' Training Corps

World War (1939-1945)

African Americans--Segregation
African American churches
African American business enterprises
African American schools
African American neighborhoods
African Americans--Housing
Urban renewal

North Carolina--Charlotte
North Carolina--Charlotte--Second Ward
North Carolina--Charlotte--Brooklyn
North Carolina--Charlotte--Blue Heaven

Interviews
Oral histories

1920-2010

Student project on Second Ward

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audio/mpeg

Connie Patton oral history interview 1, 2005 May 2, J. Murrey Atkins Library Special Collections and University Archives, University of North Carolina at Charlotte (https://goldmine.uncc.edu/islandora/object/uncc%3A189)

OH-PA0556