CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Traveling down Beatties Ford Road in west Charlotte, you’ll notice a series of bright and beautiful murals, each with a story to tell.
One of those special murals is displayed on a wall at the Westend Fresh Seafood Market. Owner Bernetta Powell thought that wall would be the perfect spot for something that represented the Queen City’s Black heritage.
Powell commissioned local visual artist, Abel Jackson, to provide his amazing artwork. This took place through a City of Charlotte Placemaking Grant, which supports artistic projects that “create and enhance community vibrancy, safety, and identity.”
The title of the mural is “River of Life”. It refers to the whole Beatties Ford community as the “River of Life” and honors six Charlotte icons who have a connection to the area, including Dr. Bertha Maxwell Roddy. Dr. Roddy started the first Head Start program in Charlotte and co-founded the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African American Arts and Culture. She was also the first chair of the National Council for Black Studies.
James Ferguson is another well-known Charlottean on the mural. He co-founded Charlotte’s first integrated law firm and has been the president of that law firm since 1984. He has also been recognized as one of the nation’s top ten litigators and has held teaching positions at Harvard Law School and North Carolina Central Law School.
Alongside James Ferguson is Julius Chambers. He’s the other co-founder of Charlotte’s first integrated law firm. Through his law practice, Chambers helped to desegregate Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. In 1971, Chambers helped to set the standards for integrating schools on the national level.
Charlotte broadcast pioneer, Hattie Leeper, is prominently featured on the mural. She was the first Black female radio deejay in the Carolinas and one of the first Black deejays in the entire United States. On the radio, Hattie was affectionately known as “Chatty Hattie”. People still recognize Leeper anytime she’s in the public, and she has regular speaking engagements across the Charlotte area.
Also on the mural is Harvey Gantt. He was the first African-American student admitted to Clemson University and graduated with honors with a degree in architecture. In addition to being a successful architect, Harvey Gantt was elected to two terms as the first Back mayor of the City of Charlotte.
Another great Charlottean on the “River of Life” mural is civil rights pioneer Sarah Stevenson. Among her many achievements, she was the first Black woman to serve on the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education. Stevenson has been described as one of the “crown jewels” of the Queen City.
If you have the chance, take a drive to 2206 Beatties Ford Road, check out the mural and have some delicious seafood. It’s all part of that historical “River of Life” on the Westside!
Larry Sprinkle: Contact Larry Sprinkle at lsprinkle@wcnc.com and follow him on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.