Calvin Brown, 2007 April 27

File

Identifier: OH-BR0546

Staff Only

Calvin L. Brown oral history interview, 2004 April 27

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Scope and Contents

Calvin Brown shares his memories of living in Charlotte, North Carolina during a time when segregation was being challenged by civil rights groups. He moved to Charlotte in 1961 after completing law school, and discusses representing clients, particularly churches, who had their properties taken by the City of Charlotte during urban renewal. Mr. Brown describes the uphill battle faced by black attorneys arguing for clients in segregated courtrooms, where often the defendant was black and the police officer was white. He also describes the active Charlotte branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), including organizational leadership, and how they prioritized fighting against discrimination, voter rights, and advocating for integration in the early to mid-1960s.

Dates

Creation: 2007 April 27

Conditions Governing Access

3 of the 57 interviews have been digitized and are available in the digital repository.

Biographical Note

Calvin L. Brown was a 71-year-old man at the time of interview, which took place at the AME Zion Publishing House in Charlotte, North Carolina. He was born in Halifax County, North Carolina in 1935. He graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Law and was employed as a lawyer for 42 years.