A Closer Look at an Overlooked Chapter: Book Club Discussion Examines Race, Religion and Urban Renewal in Charlotte

First Baptist Church is a notable building in uptown Charlotte. But there was a time, not so long ago, when the site was known not as a place of worship but a place to call home.

On Thursday, Feb. 13, the Historic Landmarks Department’s book club—Historic Bookmarks— and Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation will host a discussion on “Our Trespasses: White Churches and the Taking of American Neighborhoods.” Written by Charlotte author and community organizer Rev. Greg Jarrell, the book examines the influence of white churches in planning, executing, and profiting from federal urban renewal projects of the 1950s and 1960s. In Charlotte, these projects resulted in the demolishing of the Brooklyn neighborhood, which once housed businesses, associations, and thousands of Black families.

In conjunction with Black History Month, Jarrell will discuss his book and the intersections of race, geography, policy, and religion in Charlotte.

The event will be held Thursday, Feb. 13, at 6:30 p.m. in the gymnasium of Second Ward High School, a historic landmark that was part of Charlotte’s first public high school for Black students and is one of the last remaining structures from the Brooklyn neighborhood.

Reading the book is not mandatory to attend—all are welcome and the event is free. Learn more about the meeting.