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Thriving in the Shadows Novello Festival Press The history of African Americans in Charlotte-Mecklenburg is intriguing and inspiring. After the Civil War, the area became known as a place where people came to make their fortune and blacks were no exception. Blacks here wasted no time creating self-contained and self-sufficient communities, and they laid the financial and political groundwork for African Americans to build upon and prosper. The most intense concentration of blacks was in the center city, which was divided into four quadrants or “wards.” But much of its history has been lost to bulldozers and time. This story provides insight into how Charlotte-Mecklenburg evolved and the role of black citizens in its prosperity and growth. This rich, vibrant culture lives on in memories and in the remarkable archival and family photographs showcased in this book.
Reviews "Thriving In The Shadows: The Black Experience In Charlotte And Mecklenburg County by journalist Fannie Flono (and currently an associate editor for The Charlotte Observer) is a unique regional history of African-Americans who contributed to the economic development and social life of Charlotte, North Carolina. Enhanced with more than 100 archival photographs contributed by members of Charlotte's African-American community, chronicler Fannie Flono provides background information on how black men and women dealt with the restrictions of Jim Crow legislation and segregation and were able to create 'shadow communities' that provided genuine opportunities and led to some truly astonishing accomplishments. Of special note is the role played by returning black veterans who strove for the same opportunities at home that they enjoyed while serving overseas—leading to a reinvigorated civil rights movement among blacks of all economic levels and educational backgrounds. Eventually, their success would enable them to dismantle 'shadow communities' as integration replaced segregation. Thriving In The Shadows is an exceptionally well-written regional history that is very highly recommended for academic and community library Black Studies and American History reference collections and supplemental reading lists.”
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