But Obama told the filmmakers he also sympathized Jordans reluctance to take a political stance. And I said, yeah they do. He has also received honorary degrees from Belmont Abbey College, Johnson C. Smith University, and Clemson University. He has been a visiting lecturer at a number of prestigious institutions, including his alma mater, Clemson University, where he also received an honorary doctorate.Lucinda is a native of Hopkins, S.C. 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. Who is Harvey Gantt daughter? He moved to Charlotte after graduating from MIT, and, in 1971, co-founded Gantt Huberman Architects. A retired architect, he still remains plugged-in to the Charlotte political scene. Sonja Gantt, a key personality in WCNCs (Channel 36) news department for nearly 20 years, will leave the anchor desk in January for a new philanthropic role. Harvey B. Gantt, architect and politician, was born January 14, 1943 in Charleston, South Carolina to Christopher and Wilhelmenia Gantt. 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 Gantt was born in Charleston, South Carolina. Gantt, 50, will become executive director of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg County Public Schools Foundation, a 501-c-3 nonprofit that collects donations to supplement educational programs. They have four children: Sonja, Erika, Angela, and Adam. Gantt ran twice, against Republican Jesse Helms in 1990 and in 1996, for the United States Senate. Harvey Gantt made history in 1983 as the first African-American to be elected as mayor of Charlotte, North Carolina. Daughter of former Charlotte Mayor Harvey Gantt, she attended East Mecklenburg High School and got a journalism degree from UNC Chapel Hill. Gantt's husband threw the car into reverse and took off. He is a partner in the architectural and city planning firm Gantt/Huberman Architects and served two terms as mayor of Charlotte, N.C. The ruling was regarding a 20 year-old Harvey Gantt, who despite excellent academics had been repeatedly barred from entering the university's . He was still trying to figure out, How am I managing this image that has been created around me,' said Obama. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. "I wasnt fearing the academics. The Southern Gentleman Strategy Indeed, Harvey Gantt, 47, suggests a Southern Gentleman, courtly as he disarms white resistance by professing "no chip" on his shoulder as a black man who rose. Nonetheless, Gantt received 47 percent of the vote in the race against the nationally-known incumbent senator who had held the seat 17 years. The Gantts are the proud parents of four children. His Nike Air Jordan shoes, in fact, made him millions. Please reload the page and try again. Get the latest from the Gantt & subscribe to our mailing list. Jordans stance disappointed some of his admirers. His lone focus was his craft. That reminded me of a movie of someone reaching, overcoming some enemy on the other side and they were going to take over. I wasnt as much fearful about going to Clemson," Gantt said. The Gantt Center will serve as one of the entry points to experience the arts, sporting events and many other amenities that Charlotte has to offer. I dont think anyone who witnessed that campaign would have suggested otherwise.. We believe every community should see itself fairly reflected in local media. Admittedly, it took some convincing by Board Chair Earl Leake and others. In the spot, the hands of a white man crumples up a letter. The Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture, in Charlotte, is named in his honor. The South Carolina Gamecocks are Clemson's in-state athletic rival. Throughout his career, Harveys ties with academia have remained strong. 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. Was that when you met Dr. King? ', Even Gantt himself sympathizes with Jordan. 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. Gantt lost again, by a similar margin. That, he says with a laugh, ought to tell you something., A Towering, Terrifying Demon Horse Isnt Even the Weirdest Part, Man who lost wife, son in Texas mass shooting tells story, Gwyneth Paltrow won't recoup attorney fees in ski crash suit, 'Zombie' misinformation: 'Rape Day' hoax resurfaces on TikTok, 'Very homophobic': Teachers' union leader Randi Weingarten says House hearing crossed the line, LE SSERAFIM releases first studio album Unforgiven', Pour Salt Down Your Drain At Night, Here's Why, Cooler weather has arrived and looks to stay for the week ahead, Pine-Richland High School Band 2023 Pegasus Parade, Video: Widespread rain tapers to showers Monday (5-1-23). Their daughter, Sonja Gantt, is a former news anchor at WCNC-TV in Charlotte. Gantts wife Lucinda became the second African-American student to enroll at Clemson. WFAE "All Things Considered" host Gwendolyn Glenn talked with Gantt about past challenges he endured and the challenges the nation faces today, as armed protests are threatened during President-elect Joe Bidens inauguration. Gantt entered local politics, where he was elected to the city council, serving from 1974 to 1983. _____ Video: Harvey Gantt Black History Moment Harvey Gantt - Wikipedia Charlotte is a great community and the Carolinas are a great region. He went to the public schools of that city and graduated from Burke High School second in his class. 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. He has served on the North Carolina Democratic Party Executive Council, the Democratic National Committee, and the National Capital Planning Commission. Courtesy of the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts+Culture. During the 1970s, Gantt worked at various architectural firms in Charlotte, North Carolina, where he settled after receiving his degree from MIT. And the blame is, for me, four years of a president who I feel rightly was impeached because he did incite that riot, baiting the crowd, projecting misinformation all over the place. You had to want to be in this campaign. Former Charlotte Mayor Harvey Gantt has made history more - WCNC-TV My supporters were very strong, very fervent people, he says. In September 1963, Lucinda Brawley became the first African-American woman to be admitted to Clemson and in October 1964 married Harvey. Harvey is a native of Charleston, S.C. Cite this article: Gantt: I actually didn't meet him at all in that sense. [8] Gantt lost the election by 47% to 53%. 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. Small business owner's truck, equipment stolen, Habitat for Humanity building affordable housing in west Charlotte, At least 6 people killed in crashes on I-55 south of Springfield, Illinois. 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. But they had to give it to a minority because of a racial quota. Brooklyn residents often referred to the old Myers School as the "Jacob's Ladder School." Gantt has also received awards from the Charlotte branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and the Lifetime Achievement Award from Leadership Charlotte in 2006. 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. I dont know if thats good or bad., As further evidence that Gantt bears no ill will towards Jordan: hes helping to line Jordans pockets. Do you find this information helpful? Clemson University Digital Collections Between 1970 and 1971, he collaborated with civil rights activist Floyd B. McKissick to design Soul City, North Carolina, an experimental interracial community in eastern North Carolina. In 1971, Gantt left the Soul City project, returning to Charlotte to launch an architectural firm with Jeffrey Huberman. 90.7 Charlotte 93.7 Southern Pines About Harvey B. Gantt My supporters were very strong, very fervent people, he says. Please subscribe to keep reading. But they had to give it to a minority because of a racial quota. Former Charlotte Mayor On Making History, American Politics 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. 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. And in the crowd, there I was with my attorney, Matthew Perry, and we just got a chance to shake his hand in a long line of people who were in awe of this young man and what he was doing. It was there, and at the family dinner table with his four sisters, that he began to appreciate the importance of advocacy and the injustice of racial discrimination. Ill be sharing the story of whats happening in the classrooms with businesses that want to invest. Gantt said she has always had a passion for education and considered pursuing a career in teaching while in college. But Jesse Helms believes that abortion should be outlawed, even for victims of rape and incest. But he would overcome the vestiges of segregation to become the citys first black mayor, blazing a trail in the Queen City like he did decades earlier at Clemson. Glenn: And, of course, North Carolina went for President Trump. He was elected to two terms as the first black Mayor of Charlotte from 1983 to 1987. From 1974 until 1983, Gantt served on the Charlotte City Council. Being a man of tradition, I always felt it was more appropriate to name a building or street for someone after their passing, as a way to honor their work. As the oldest child of Wilhelmina and Christopher Gantt, he often attended NAACP meetings with his father. Sonja Gantt aims newscast in new direction | Charlotte Observer Gantt was the first African American student to enroll in Clemson University, graduating with honors with a degree in architecture. I guess if youre building a brand thats what you do., Gantt was seeking to become the first African-American senator from North Carolina. And I said, yeah they do. In this week's Wisdom Watch, Gantt, who is also a renowned architect,. Is that really fair?" Use the unsubscribe link in those emails to opt out at any time. That has been a fear that extends all the way back to the beginning of this country and beyond. [4], Gantt manages a successful architectural practice, Gantt Huberman Architects, and remains active in politics. Sean Mulhall. Whoops! Inspired by his father, a longtime National Association for the . We had folks from all over the country. Harvey Bernard Gantt (born January 14, 1943) . As a result, the firm has developed some of the citys most iconic landmarks, including the Charlotte Transportation Center, TransAmerica Square, ImaginOn, Friendship Missionary Baptist Church, and the Johnson C. Smith University Science Center. In the 1980s, he opposed making Martin Luther King Jr. Day a national holiday. 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. SouthBound Extra: A Preview Of Harvey Gantt Interview. In 1963 Harvey B. Gantt became the first African American student admitted to Clemson University. Its skyward stairway was a visible reminder of the importance of aspiring to greater things and a good education. 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. In 1963, Gantt became the first African-American student to attend the previously all-white institution. A much bigger contributor to his loss, Gantt points out, was the infamous Hands ad that Helms campaign ran before the election. Gantt, Harvey | South Carolina Encyclopedia I only heard about this Michael Jordan saga secondhand. A Guide to Reducing Your Health Care Costs, Breaking Barriers: Challenges and opportunities for Latino students, EQUALibrium: An exploration of race and equity in Charlotte, Falling short: Why Democrats keep losing most statewide races, EQUALibrium Live: Conversations on Race & Equity, NPR's Founding Mothers In Conversation With WFAE's Lisa Worf, Two Charlotte charter schools now face closure over academic and financial struggles, The guy who ate a $120,000 banana in an art museum says he was just hungry, Arkansas woman pleads not guilty to selling over 20 boxes of stolen human body parts, The Senate holds its Supreme Court ethics hearing this week with no justices, SouthBound Replay: Harvey Gantt On Activism, Jesse Helms, And His Faith In Better Days.