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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: 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
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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: 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
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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