Second Ward High School Gymnasium - Levine Museum of the New South

Animated image of the location of Second Ward High School today with the historic photo overlayed — Second Ward High School opened as Mecklenburg County’s first Black high school in 1923. During urban renewal, local leaders discussed converting the facility into a magnet school, but following court-ordered desegregation, the school board chose to close the school instead in 1969. Over fifty years later, Second Ward High School remains a source of pride among community members. Historic photo: Courtesy of the Robinson-Spangler Carolina Room – Charlotte Mecklenburg Library.

Teaching at Second Ward High School

Former Driver’s Ed. teacher Vic Wilson reflects on his time at Second Ward High School and the inequality of schools during segregation.

Transcript: Second Ward was my first job – 1964. My experiences working at Second Ward were very good experiences, and they were good for several reasons. First of all, we had teachers who were interested in teaching students. We had cooperation from the principal. We had each other’s back so to speak. They told us all along the way that Second Ward was separate but equal. That wasn’t possible. And, I really, I found that out.

I really found it out when they shipped me out to South Mecklenburg – how unequal it really was. South Mecklenburg didn’t have a barbed-wire fence around it. Well, maybe not barbed wire, but a chain-linked fence around it. The grass was cut. The yard looked good. The principal had a house that he lived in that was furnished by the school system. He had a car to drive that was furnished by the school system. You never heard that over here at Second Ward. At Second Ward, when we needed supplies, pencils, papers, anything, we had to sign out for it. Now at South Mecklenburg, they had a big safe with paper, pens, pencils, whatever we needed, and all we had to do was go in and get it. Now, was that equal? No. No, it was not. And, we had a promise that Second Ward was going to be rebuilt, but deep down in my heart I knew that wasn’t so.

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Making the Honor Roll

Former Second Ward student J. C. Cousar shares what motivated him to make good grades.

Transcript: Well going to Second Ward High School was a great experience. When I was in the 9th grade, I liked shooting pool. So, I was playing hooky from school and going to the pool room, gambling. And, I’ll never forget this little old man was over in the corner one day and he pulled me over there: “Son, do you want to look like me when you grow up?” I went back. I made the honor roll.

Overcoming Inequality in the Classroom

Annette Mason reflects on how her teachers overcame the inequalities of segregation to ensure students “became productive citizens.”

Transcript: We just had some good teachers – Mr. Levi, who was my chemistry teacher. And, I do remember that we were paired with Central. And, their colors were blue and white; our colors were blue and white. And, I remember wearing a used majorette uniform. We had used band uniforms, because whenever they got rid of things at Central, they sent it to Second Ward. We had textbooks that pages were torn out, I remember. Because, I took chemistry and we had missing things in our kits, and broken beakers and things like that. But, those teachers still taught us, and we learned. And, we can never forget that, because they wanted to make sure that we became productive citizens.

Dreaming of Being a Second Ward Tiger

Doris Williams shares the heartbreak she endured when she learned that she would never be able to attend Second Ward High School.

Transcript: It was great. And, as soon as we got out of elementary school, in the afternoons, we would go straight – because Second Ward was, you know, right there – we just go across the little street. And, go over in the gym and swing on the big ropes and everything. And, we just knew, you know, that we were going – we just looked forward to going to Second Ward. And, then when they decided they were going to close Second Ward, it just – it was very devastating, very devastating. I cried and cried. I guess I cried for about three months, you know, because, I just knew when I left elementary school that I was going to Second Ward. But, that didn’t transpire.

The Queen City Classic

Doretha Leak looks back on the Queen City Classic between Second Ward and West Charlotte high schools.

Transcript: We used to have what you call a Queen City Classic between Second Ward and West Charlotte, and it was held at Memorial Stadium. We would always walk there for the games. We had a good time attending those games, and we would sort of fight all the way back home. The losing team would get mad at the winning team. It was a good, a clean fight. There wasn’t any shooting or anything. You know, we didn’t do that. But, we did sometimes use a little blade, a little knife. But, it was a lot of fun. We looked forward to those games between West Charlotte and Second Ward.

Jefferson Grigsby

Jefferson Grigsby was born November 21, 1891, in South Carolina. He graduated from Biddle University (now Johnson C. Smith University) and received master’s degrees from Columbia University and Ohio State University. Following his service in World War I, he entered the teaching profession. Grigsby served as principal of Second Ward High School from 1931 to 1957. He was instrumental in the School Workers Federal Credit Union organization in 1941 and served as its longtime treasurer. Grigsby died on December 5, 1975.

Second Ward Alumni Museum

Founded in 1980, the Second Ward High School National Alumni Foundation is “dedicated to keeping the school’s memory alive and to [being] a resource in finding and sharing our community’s African American heritage.” They host annual meetings and reunions that commemorate the school, faculty, students, and Brooklyn community. The Foundation also runs a museum and center in the Second Ward Alumni House at 1905 Beatties Ford Road.

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