Each year, tens of thousands of individuals attend football games at Bank of America stadium, unaware that they are actually walking on top of the remains of a once-bustling Black community that was formed after the end of the Civil War.
The stadium was constructed on top of Good Samaritan Hospital, a former segregated healthcare facility that was established in 1891 to serve Black patients. This hospital was one of the earliest private hospitals in North Carolina for Black patients and is considered a significant part of American history.
The Bank of America stadium in Charlotte, known as the Panthers stadium, is located in a historically Black neighborhood and is also the site of a tragic lynching of Joe McNeely.
According to Dan Aldridge, a History and Africana Studies professor at Davidson College, this location was the site of one of the most terrible racial events in Charlotte’s past.
A group of 30-35 Caucasian males carrying weapons forcefully entered the hospital and forcibly removed a man from the premises, ultimately shooting and killing him in plain view of the building.
The destroyed Black community was buried under the construction of the Panthers stadium during urban renewal.
The idea of “urban revitalization” led to the destruction of Black areas, societies, enterprises, and residences throughout North Carolina, particularly from 1949 to 1974.
The Bank of America stadium in Charlotte, known as the Panthers stadium, is located in a historically Black neighborhood and is also the site of the tragic lynching of Joe McNeely. This area also includes a hospital.
One instance is Durham, which used to have a notable Black Wall Street that was thriving with Black-owned enterprises. Nevertheless, the construction of the Durham Freeway resulted in the near-total demolition of this significant community.
Similarly, Raleigh previously had thirteen villages established by freed individuals after the end of slavery. Presently, only two of these villages remain, with the largest one, Oberlin Village, being divided by the building of Wade Avenue.
In the late 1800s, Charlotte’s Brooklyn neighborhood was established by former slaves. This was a common trend among Black communities in the state, who were often confined to undesirable areas prone to flooding and plagued by sanitation problems.
As per historical records at the Charlotte Library, the Brooklyn region was initially labeled as ‘Logtown’ on maps during the late 1800s. This name was similar to those used for other freedmen villages in the Triangle area, such as ‘Slabtown’ or ‘Save Rent,’ which were known by colloquial names due to their affordable housing.
The Bank of America stadium in Charlotte, known as the Panthers stadium, is located in a historically Black neighborhood and was built on the grounds of a hospital and the site of the horrific lynching of Joe McNeely.
During the 1900s, the region was labeled Brooklyn, a term that would later be associated with the Black population until urban redevelopment.
Aldridge expressed sadness over the fact that numerous stadiums were constructed on land that used to be inhabited by Black communities. These areas are often characterized by poverty and challenges. While they may not be as prosperous as Black Wall Street, they hold significant value as homes and communities for many individuals who were displaced.
The Bank of America stadium in Charlotte, known as the home of the Panthers, is situated on top of a significant Black community, a hospital, and the location where the tragic lynching of Joe McNeely occurred.
Numerous historically significant locations for the Black community were destroyed during urban renewal. Additionally, Black neighborhoods were often pressured to settle in unsuitable geographic locations, resulting in challenges for accumulating wealth and property that were more susceptible to being lost over time.
During its height, Brooklyn was the residence of:
- was opened in 1881.
In 1881, the first Black public school in Charlotte was established.
- is relocated to the west side of the city.
The sole Black high school in Charlotte has been moved to the western side of the city.
- was established by Andrew Carnegie in 1903
In 1903, Andrew Carnegie established the first library in the city specifically for Black patrons, free of charge.
- in the United States
Some of the earliest American companies to provide professional employment opportunities to African American individuals.
- was founded by Dr. W. J. Tretheway
Dr. W. J. Tretheway founded the initial private hospital for African American individuals in Charlotte.
Aldridge stated that this is a crucial aspect of understanding the past, as it sheds light on the factors that shaped our current society, both positively and negatively.
The Bank of America stadium in Charlotte, home of the Panthers, is situated in a Black neighborhood with a rich history. The area also includes a hospital and was the site of the tragic lynching of Joe McNeely.
The location of the Panthers’ football field was previously the site of a significant lynching event.
Over a hundred years ago, the land that is now the Bank of America field had a completely different purpose. Today, it is used for entertaining thousands of enthusiastic fans as football players run back and forth on the field.
According to Aldridge, the Bank of America Stadium site is primarily recognized for its hospital. On one hand, the hospital represents Black success and pride, but on the other hand, it also highlights the ongoing issue of racial disparities in healthcare. Therefore, it serves as a symbol of both honor and disgrace.
The stadium of Panthers Bank of America, located in Charlotte, encompasses the significant Black community, a hospital, and the location where the unjust lynching of Joe McNeely occurred.
A group of approximately 35 white men, armed and angry, pulled 22-year-old Black man Joe McNeely out of the hospital where he was receiving treatment and murdered him in the street.
Krista Terrell, a member of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Remembrance Project steering committee, stated that he was a resident of Charlotte and worked as a laborer.
McNeely was involved in a confrontation with a Caucasian police officer. Shots were discharged, and McNeely was charged with injuring a police officer while on duty.
McNeely, who sustained gunshot wounds during the confrontation, was apprehended and detained at Good Samaritan Hospital.
The Bank of America stadium in Charlotte, known as the Panthers stadium, is located in a historic Black neighborhood. It also sits on the site where Joe McNeely was tragically lynched, and is near a hospital.
Terrell stated that he was not a patient at the location, but rather was restrained to his bed and monitored by two police officers.
A group of enraged individuals raided the hospital and fatally shot McNeely in plain view of the facility.
Aldridge stated that the current location of the Bank of America Stadium is where all of this occurs.
The jury spent three days discussing, but ultimately no one was punished for the lynching of McNeely.
Terrell and Aldridge both agree that it is important to remember the history of Brooklyn, including the hospital and McNeely.
Aldridge suggested that while tearing down the stadium may not be necessary, the history of the site, including the presence of Good Samaritan Hospital and the Black community, should be acknowledged.
Recently, Terrell collaborated with volunteers to create a memorial for McNeely and the location where he was lynched.
“We entered Bank of America Stadium’s field and attempted to approach the area where Mr. Joe McNeely was lynched,” she stated. “We had people, including young men, who dug into the ground and collected soil in an empty jar. The atmosphere was somber, peaceful, and showed great respect.”
A commemorative plaque has been produced and will be placed at Bank of America Stadium next to the marker for Good Samaritan Hospital.
The thought of all the previously vibrant Black communities that have been forgotten and almost wiped out by history can be unsettling. However, Aldridge believes that it is not surprising to discover the extent to which Black history has been erased.
He stated that the mistreatment of impoverished and powerless individuals is not surprising if one examines historical events.
The state’s history obscured by football stadiums.
The home of the Panthers, the stadium, is not the sole football stadium that conceals forgotten Black heritage. NC State’s Carter-Finley stadium is also constructed on top of a vanished Black neighborhood, named Lincolnville, and for many years, spectators unknowingly passed by a concealed Black graveyard. Similarly, Clemson’s stadium is situated on a burial ground for enslaved individuals. The football stadium at UNC is connected to the violent past of the Wilmington Massacre.
‘Ghosts in the Stadium’ is a new WRAL Doc exploring the hidden history beneath each of these iconic football stadiums.
Podcast: Chris Lea shares his personal insights on Ghosts in the Stadium
Listen to Chris Lea explain how he became fascinated with the history hidden by football stadiums across NC and SC.
Source: wral.com