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Oral History Interview with Carrie Abramson, February 21, 1999. Interview K-0275. Southern Oral History Program Collection (#4007).
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  • Abstract
    Former West Charlotte High School student Carrie Abramson reflects on her experiences at West Charlotte and the role that the school's racial diversity played in her time there and in her future life. Abramson saw segregation increasingly insinuating itself into her educational life: at West Charlotte, occasional school-wide activities brought together black and white students who normally would not have sought each other out; at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, she witnessed an even greater degree of segregation. Abramson's experience with de facto segregation at West Charlotte convinced her of the value of racial diversity, even if contact between white and black students is relatively limited.
    Excerpts
  • Student notices more segregation as she advances through school
  • Socioeconomics at root of perceived racial differences
  • West Charlotte's sports tie it to black community
  • Efforts to maintain racial balance at West Charlotte
  • Incomplete integration at West Charlotte
  • Incomplete integration is better than none at all
  • Lack of integration at UNC
  • Integrated experience inspires belief in public education
  • Learn More
  • Finding aid to the Southern Oral History Program Collection
  • Database of all Southern Oral History Program Collection interviews
  • Resources for Educators
  • Race in Charlotte Schools Learning Object
  • Subjects
  • School integration--North Carolina--Charlotte
  • West Charlotte High School (N.C.)
  • Charlotte (N.C.)--Race relations
  • Schools--North Carolina--Charlotte
  • 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.