Feb 16, 2016

Five men who brought African-American voices to the table in Charlotte in the 1970s and thereafter recounted their efforts and those of others to push Charlotte to become an inclusive city.

Stories spilled out in an extended edition of the Forum this morning. The stories were about the past, but some of the strongest messages to Forum participants in the room and online were admonitions to focus on the work yet to be done, and to encourage and work with those who “get it” that much remains to be done.

On Tuesday’s panel is pictured above. They are, from left: Leon Miller, retired City of Charlotte administrator and former interim manager of Board of Elections; Steve Crump, TV journalist and documentarian; Ron Leeper, who served in the first wave of Charlotte City Council district representatives and owns his own construction company; Harvey Gantt, former Charlotte mayor; and Harry Jones, former Mecklenburg County manager.