James B. Lee oral history interview 1, 2018 May 22
Description
Grier Heights is a historic African American neighborhood in Charlotte, North Carolina that is experiencing rapid gentrification. James Bradley Lee, community historian and organizer, recalls his personal experiences in the Grier Heights neighborhood where he has lived many years. He remembers influential community leaders, including James "Jim" Polk, and George Dunlap, who mentored Mr. Lee as a young man, and he describes the local general store as being the “heart” of the neighborhood, suggesting that its absence has changed the spirit of the community. Mr. Lee also notes what he sees as a disconnect between Grier Heights' older and more recent residents, and how this relates to his desire to write a book about the neighborhood's history. Other topics he discusses include the implications of outside organizations' efforts to save the community, and his intention to use the voices of Grier Heights community members to slow down the gentrification that continues to drive residents further from center of Charlotte.
