Connie Patton [2], 2007 April 2

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Identifier: OH-PA0556

Staff Only

Connie Patton oral history interview 2, 2007 April 02

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Scope and Contents

Charlotte, North Carolina native Connie Patton recounts growing up in the the Brooklyn neighborhood of Charlotte, also known as Second Ward. He shares his memories of playing football and baseball with other children, churches, businesses, and joining the ROTC at Second Ward High School. Mr. Patton describes joining the Navy after high school, becoming a petty officer, and not being able to rise further in rank because of racial discrimination and limited roles for African Americans at the time. He also touches on how urban renewal in Charlotte during the 1960s and 1970s affected the Brooklyn community and points out that there was high-quality housing in Brooklyn as well as rundown shotgun houses.

Dates

Creation: 2007 April 2

Conditions Governing Access

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

Biographical Note

Connie Patton was an 82-year-old man at the time of interview, which took place in his home in Charlotte, North Carolina. He was born in Charlotte in 1925. He was educated at Second Ward High School and Carver College, and was employed as a postal worker, a baggage handler and as a petty officer in the U.S. Navy.