Deep ties between West Charlotte and surrounding community
This excerpt offers a taste of how deeply some West Charlotte alumni believe in the school. For example, Love was never concerned that West Charlotte might close during integration because it had such a strong community supporting it. Love believes that West Charlotte is a "marvelous" place and that the community would have fought to keep it open.
Citing this Excerpt
Oral History Interview with Harriet Gentry Love, June 17, 1998. Interview K-0171. Southern Oral History Program Collection (#4007) in the Southern Oral History Program Collection, Southern Historical Collection, Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Full Text of the Excerpt
PG: There was a period during that time in the early years of integration where there was some talk maybe about West Charlotte being closed. After Second Ward was closed, there were concerns that this was going to happen to West Charlotte too. I guess I'm interested in your perspective or experience with this sort of time period of concern. Were you concerned?
HL: Well, I imagine there was some concern but not that much for me. I guess the reason being that we had a very strong neighborhood around West Charlotte. Fred Alexander was a city councilman, I believe, very good person for the community that would speak out. I think these educators and various people in the community really said and pushed the need for West Charlotte. I think it was very simple. People may make it complex, but it was simple. We needed it; we're going to stand behind it; and we're going to do what we have to do. I think it just worked out. I think it was one of those blessings in life that you just get. Of course, even up to a couple of years ago we were hearing something like 'Oh they may close West Charlotte.' We have a very, very, very strong alumni--.
END OF TAPE 1, SIDE A
START OF TAPE 1, SIDE B
HL: They decided if they wanted to close West Charlotte, it would not be an easy task. They would have a good little fight on their hands because the community, and you're talking about people that are retired; they're not working anymore; they're saying, 'This is a fine school. I graduated in nineteen forty something and I'm not going to see it go down.' But there will always be a West Charlotte somewhere. It will have a to be. I can see it as a very special place for all students, any student. I just hope it does continue and does continue to turn out as many fine young men and women as we've seen in these years since I've been there. I think it's just--I think it's marvelous. And you know, I work on this college campus so I'm around young people a lot. But you know it's not really a very noisy school. Have you ever had a chance to walk through it when all the students are there?
PG: Not when the students are there. No.
