Documenting the American South Logo
Collections >> Oral Histories of the American South >> Document Menu
Oral History Interview with L. M. Wright Jr., April 1, 1974. Interview A-0333-1. Southern Oral History Program Collection (#4007).
Audio with Transcript
  • Listen Online with Text Transcript (Requires QuickTime and JavaScript)
  • Transcript Only (34 p.)
  • HTML file
  • XML/TEI source file
  • Download Complete Audio File (MP3 format / ca. 157 MB, 01:26:07)
  • MP3
  • Abstract
    L. M. Wright worked as a writer and editor for the Charlotte Observer during the late 1950s and early 1960s. His positions afforded him a unique view of the unfolding political landscape in Charlotte, North Carolina, during those tumultuous years. In this interview, Wright speaks at length about the various factors that shaped local politics in Charlotte into the mid-1970s. He begins by addressing the changing role of the Chamber of Commerce in local politics, arguing that over the course of the 1960s its centrality to political developments began to dwindle. Despite the Chamber's dwindling power, however, Wright asserts throughout that business interests, specifically those of the downtown area, continued to play a central role to local politics. Wright describes the role of historically prominent business figures, including the Belk and Ivey families, and their relationship to local politics. Additionally, he discusses the role of African American business and political leaders, including Fred Alexander, Kelly Alexander, Reginald Hawkins, and Phil Berry. At several points in the interview, Wright argues that local business leaders were quick to support desegregation in the 1960s because they understood that it was in their economic interest to do so. Wright also discusses how desegregation affected local politics in terms of the political affiliations of various precincts and in the process of urban renewal. Throughout the interview, Wright's observations reveal the ways in which local politics intersected with race and economics during an era of political consolidation in Charlotte. Researchers interested in the history and politics of Charlotte will also appreciate Wright's efforts to identify various participants in local politics and the economic and political networks they built.
    Excerpts
  • Changing role of the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce
  • Impetus for the Chamber's support of desegregation
  • Role of African American political and business leaders
  • Urban renewal in Charlotte, North Carolina
  • Learn More
  • Finding aid to the Southern Oral History Program Collection
  • Database of all Southern Oral History Program Collection interviews
  • The Southern Oral History Program transcripts presented here on Documenting the American South undergo an editorial process to remove transcription errors. Texts may differ from the original transcripts held by the Southern Historical Collection.

    Funding from the Institute for Museum and Library Services supported the electronic publication of this title.