Glenn: And, of course, North Carolina went for President Trump. I was struck by the descriptions that seem to suggest that the people doing this were well versed in military tactics to get in, and then to see them smashing the windows in the hallway it was all surprising. M.L. It was there, in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, that Harvey Gantt began a career of breaking ground. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. 90.3 Hickory 106.1 Laurinburg, PublishedJanuary 18, 2021 at 7:53 AM EST. She worked for several years as an on-air contract reporter for CNN in Atlanta and worked in print as a reporter for the Baltimore Sun Media Group, The Washington Post and covered Congress and various federal agencies for the Daily Environment Report and Real Estate Finance Today. It's growing very well. Sonja has been a central member of our news team for nearly 20 years, said WCNCs general manager. Gantt: I'm encouraged that many of the places where Biden and Kamala Harris did well were in the urban centers and the growth regions of our state. Or saying darn, if Michael had endorsed us we would have gotten another 10, 20, 30, 40 thousands votes. You needed that job, and you were the best qualified, the narrator says. But thats where my energy was.. You have reached your limit of free articles. Jordans reluctance to get political stands in contrast to todays superstar athletes, like LeBron James, who are much more socially engaged. Courtesy AIA. If he was in his mid 50s and done all of the things he had done and been as socially conscious as he has been and I was running a campaign, maybe I would have expected more of him, says Gantt. WCNC-TV anchorwoman Sonja Gantt and her husband noticed a white pickup at the top of their driveway as they were pulling into their garage Saturday night, police said.Two men wearing ski masks and holding handguns approached, and one man ordered Gantt's husband to go into the house. (The Last Dances ratings would say otherwise). A boost from Jordan, who at that time hadnt won an NBA title but was still one of the most famous, beloved people on the planet, could have only benefitted Gantt. Use the unsubscribe link in those emails to opt out at any time. The city did not at that time have majority black population and currently does not have a majority black population. Helms' career was marked by repeated charges that he was . We are forever grateful to them. You can cancel at any time. This collection contains photographs of Harvey and Lucinda, who is the first African American woman to attend Clemson, as well as official university documents related to Harvey's integration fight. Write to Sean Gregory at sean.gregory@time.com. [4], In 2009, the Afro-American Cultural Center and the City of Charlotte honored Gantt by building the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture, recognizing his contributions to the civil rights movement and as the city's first black mayor. Magazines, Digital And my grandson, who had access to his cellphone, shows me this picture of people climbing the Capitol wall. In his famous 1963 "Letter from a Birmingham Jail," King wrote that the ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy. These are indeed challenging times that have many in the country wondering how we move forward as a nation. ``We don't know if it was random or if someone was targeting her,' said police Capt. Gantts a season ticket holder for the Charlotte Hornets, the NBA team owned by Jordan. The episode, which aired Sunday evening, cut to an older clip of author Nathan McCallwho worked at the Washington Post from 1989-1998comparing Jordan unfavorably to Muhammad Ali, who gave up prime earning years to oppose the Vietnam War and Americas treatment of African-Americans. Your donation is fully tax-deductible. It's just beyond belief. Even Jordan has stepped out of his former comfort zone a bit: in 2016, he released a statement against police brutality and announced two $1 million donations to organizations seek to build trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve. Is that really fair?" He also ran twice against Jesse Helms for the U.S. Senate. The Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture, in Charlotte, is named in his honor. Where do you think North Carolina and Charlotte stand today in terms of divisiveness? Gantt grew up in Charleston, S.C.; he was the first African-American student to enroll at Clemson University in January 1963; he and the second African-American student on campus, Lucinda. The Gantt Center is located at Levine Center for the Arts and supported by the North Carolina Arts Council and the Knight Foundation. And like most people, I mean, you try to find out where the blame is. Eisiminger, Skip, editor, "Integration with Dignity", Clemson University Digital Press, Clemson, South Carolina, 2003, Last edited on 12 February 2023, at 08:57, Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture, "The 1990 Elections: North Carolina; Helms Kindled Anger in Campaign, And May Have Set Tone for Others", "Nonprofits & Philanthropy | The Y9 Group", "Watch Full Episodes Online of Biographical Conversations With on PBS | Harvey Gantt: Episode 1: The Young Pioneer", Harvey Gantt and the Desegregation of Clemson University, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Harvey_Gantt&oldid=1138908708, This page was last edited on 12 February 2023, at 08:57. A lot of people have called me over the years and asked, did you go to Michael? One, which attacked Gantt's pro-abortion stance, repeatedly rewound and replayed a soundbite from Gantt, with the image changing from color to black and white, and Gantt's face appearing darker at the end. And since that time, Ive thought it was much ado about nothing., Jordan, Gantt notes, was a 27-year-old superstar still on the rise: his Bulls hadnt beaten the Detroit Pistons in the Eastern Conference finals yet. in city planning from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Back in 1990 Jordan, who grew up in North Carolina and starred for the University of North Carolina Tar Heels, refused to publicly endorse Harvey Gantt, the African-American former Democratic mayor of Charlotte, in his racially contentious Senate race versus Republican Jesse Helms. In January 1963, after a legal battle that escalated to the U.S. 4th Circuit Court of Appeals, Gantt became the first African-American student accepted at Clemson University. Other documents collected are correspondence to and from university lawyers, legislators, and members of the public. But they had to give it to a minority because of a racial quota. He is a partner in the architectural and city planning firm Gantt/Huberman Architects and served two terms as mayor of Charlotte, N.C. Gantt was the first of only 2 African Americans to hold office as mayor of Charlotte. Ultimately, Michael Jordan may be forgotten, McCall said. They first reside in public housing, then in a home that Gantt's father built by hand, learning carpentry as he went. My wife and my grandson were in the car with me. Gwendolyn is an award-winning journalist who has covered a broad range of stories on the local and national levels. Gantt was the first African American student to enroll in Clemson University, graduating with honors with a degree in architecture. He supported the rights of NFL players to kneel during the national anthem and backed James after President Donald Trump questioned Jamess intelligence. [9] Gantt ran against Helms again in 1996, but he lost again with 46% of the vote. In terms of coming together? 2-year-old girl suffered extensive injuries. Ryan Newman in serious condition after violent crash on last lap of Daytona 500, Spring-like weather means early allergy season has sprung, Restrained in Class: Parents, experts alarmed by educators restraining children, Entire flight waits to exit plane so NC man can make his twins' father-daughter dance. Gantt landed her first job at the CBS affiliate in Florence, S.C., then moved to Charlotte's WBTV (Channel 3) for five years as health care reporter and fill-in anchor. All rights reserved. I wasnt as much fearful about going to Clemson," Gantt said. He went to the public schools of that city and graduated from Burke High School second in his class. Is that really fair?, That election, Gantt says, certainly had racial overtones. Is that really fair?, That election, Gantt says, certainly had racial overtones. In 1963, he was the first African American to be admitted to Clemson University in South Carolina. "They surrounded me with love and affection.. He was defeated for a third term as mayor in 1987 by Sue Myrick. Harvey B. Gantt, architect and politician, was born January 14, 1943 in Charleston, South Carolina to Christopher and Wilhelmenia Gantt. He said activism is just not in his nature. Its a question former Charlotte Mayor Harvey Gantt has thought about over the years, including when he was the first African American to attend Clemson University and when he lost in a tight race for the U.S. Senate in 1990 that was racially charged. That's why I agreed to the naming of the building, and that's why I want you to join me in celebrating our history and the dawning of a new day for all of us. And I said, yeah they do. Was that when you met Dr. King? Clemons, The Mayoral Campaigns of Harvey Gantt: Prospect and Harvey B. Gantt Center on opening day Gantt was born in Charleston, South Carolina to Wilhelminia and Christopher C. Gantt, a shipyard worker. He said being a pioneer wasnt difficult because he had friends on campus, both black and white, who made the transition easier. If he was in his mid 50s and done all of the things he had done and been as socially conscious as he has been and I was running a campaign, maybe I would have expected more of him, says Gantt. Harvey Gantt was the first African American student to enroll at Clemson, entering the University in January 1963. Gantts a season ticket holder for the Charlotte Hornets, the NBA team owned by Jordan. He served on the North Carolina Democratic Party Executive Council, the Democratic National Committee, and was appointed as chair of the National Capital Planning Commission in Washington, DC. Glenn has won awards for her reports from the Maryland-DC-Delaware Press Association, SNA and the first-place radio award from the National Association of Black Journalists. Harvey B. Gantt. RALEIGH, N.C., NOV. 6 -- Sen. Jesse Helms (R-N.C.) was reelected to a fourth term tonight over Democratic challenger Harvey Gantt . Harvey Gantt becomes Clemson University's first African-American student in 1963. Harvey Bernard Gantt grew up in the 1940s and 50s in then-segregated Charleston, South Carolina. I only heard about this Michael Jordan saga secondhand. Gantt's husband threw the car into reverse and took off. He thinks its impossible to know whether Jordan, who as a freshman at UNC hit the game-winning shot to give legendary coach Dean Smith his first national title, could have tipped the race in his favor. Harvey Bernard Gantt (born January 14, 1943) . We want our teachers to feel supported and not feel like what happens in their classrooms is limited by resources, Gantt said Monday. He says that neither he or anyone from his campaign reached out to Jordan directly about an endorsement in 1990. Lucinda was business manager of East Towne Manor, an assisted-living facility in Charlotte, until her retirement. On this holiday to honor the Rev. Inspired by his father, a longtime National Association for the . That was not the first thing that came to my mind on the morning after that defeat., In the series, Jordan copped to making the Republicans buy sneakers too comment, but insists it was in jest. We had folks from all over the country. Lucinda entered in the fall semester of that same year, making her Clemsons second African American student to enroll.Harvey is a native of Charleston, S.C. [3] The family moved to the city, where his father worked as a rigger mechanic at the navy yard during the war years. Your support helps the Gantt present exceptional exhibitions, leading scholars and engaging programs that celebrate the African-American story. From morning until night, I was traveling all over this state, making speeches and doing a whole lot of stuff and trying to become a credible candidate, Gantt says. When you support the work of QCity Metro, you support our push to achieve that goal for Black Charlotte. Back in 1990 Jordan, who grew up in North Carolina and starred for the University of North Carolina Tar Heels, refused to publicly endorse Harvey Gantt, the African-American former Democratic mayor of Charlotte, in his racially contentious Senate race versus Republican Jesse Helms. Republicans buy sneakers, too, Jordan famously said by way of explanation. Thirty years later, Gantt tells TIME he doesnt begrudge Jordans decision not to publicly support himand isnt sure how much it would have mattered, anyway. I thought about the enormous history of the residents of the historic Second Ward community of "Brooklyn," where the Gantt Center now stands. Please reload the page and try again. That, he says with a laugh, ought to tell you something.. In 1970, he earned . Thank you for your interest in and support of the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African American Arts + Culture. He graduated with a bachelors degree in architecture from Clemson with honors in 1965. Glenn: Now, you yourself, when you ran for the U.S. Senate against incumbent Sen. Jesse Helms, you had a really tough campaign, and there were lots of charges of racism. If you appeal enough to the fears that people have about their future existence, you can actually dictate what might they need to do to overcome those fears. Political Review 26:1 (1998): B. Yeoman, Helms Last Stand? Republicans buy sneakers, too, Jordan famously said by way of explanation. He said activism is just not in his nature. Sometimes standing up for whats right means having the courage to blaze your own trail.