CMS holds school renaming ceremony to honor ex-slave, Black community activist

CHARLOTTE — Last year, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools said they would identify and rename schools with racist ties. On Wednesday, that happened in west Charlotte.

It was a celebratory day at the newly named Charles H. Parker Academic Center. Born into slavery, Charles Parker later built schools, established churches and provided affordable housing for the African American community in Charlotte.

In April, the CMS Board of Education voted 8-1 to rename the Barringer Academic Center the Charles H. Parker Academic Center.

Barringer had ties to white supremacy and the Confederacy.

[ALSO READ: CMS policy says 2 of 3 finalists in renaming Barringer do not qualify]

Parker was an ex-slave who helped start Moores Sanctuary AME Zion Church. He became a landowner and helped other African Americans own land as well.

Parker was also an activist in the Black community in the West Boulevard area. He died in 1939.

Parker’s great-granddaughter, Dr. Valeria Avery, told Channel 9 her great-grandfather is getting the recognition he deserves.

“His goal was to help people and he did that,” she said. “This was his area, where he put a lot of hard work into it and helped people ... We’re grateful for his life and the things that he did.”

Members of the CMS Board of Education told Channel 9 they are working with district employees to identify other schools that may be eligible for renaming, but so far they don’t know how many there might be.

“We are proud to rename this school for Mr. Parker, who was born into slavery and who went on to build schools, establish churches and provide affordable housing in the African American community,” said CMS board chair Elyse Dashew in a news release. “His legacy in public education in Charlotte, as well as his visionary civic activism, will serve as an inspiration to students and the school and our district as a whole.”

Barringer Academic Center was built in the 1950s on land purchased by local businessman Osmond L. Barringer, who developed much of the West Boulevard corridor in the 1920s.

The school was named to honor his father, a Confederate general, and his brother, an advocate of so-called “scientific racism,” CMS stated in a news release.

The other name choices were Samuel Banks Pride who founded Charlotte’s first public school for African Americans in 1882; and Charles Sifford, who was the first Black golfer to play on the PGA Tour.

(WATCH BELOW: Community cast votes to rename Barringer Academy)

Community cast votes to rename Barringer Academy

Cox Media Group