Nikki Glinski
Fundraising
The Friendship Junior Youth Council “King and Queen Ceremony.”
Courtesy of Margaret G.A. Alexander
The residents of Brooklyn sponsored many events for fundraising. It was an
activity that helped form a sense of community within Brooklyn.
The Friendship Junior Youth Council of the Charlotte branch of the NAACP
needed to raise five hundred dollars to buy a lifetime membership to the Friendship
Missionary Baptist Church. To raise the money, the members of the Junior Youth
Council sponsored fundraisers which included the “Country Hour” at the Friendship
Missionary Baptist Church during which they collected numerous donations, “Punch
hours,” Easter egg hunts, etc.1
After the five hundred dollars was raised, a king and queen were crowned. Out of
all of the youth council members, two were chosen to be crowned- the young man who
raised the most money and the young woman who raised the most.
The youth council also raised money for trips. The NAACP held conventions
during which prominent figures of the NAACP would speak. When the North Carolina
state conventions were held in Raleigh, the Friendship Junior Youth Council would
attend and have a chance to meet various prestigious NAACP figures like Jackie
Robinson or Thurgood Marshall or Roy Wilkins.2
The Youth Council members who attended the trip to Washington D.C.
Courtesy of Margaret G.A. Alexander
Some members of the Friendship Junior Youth Council went to Washington D.C.
to attend the national convention. The Youth Council rented a forty-five seat capacity
bus for a week. Each member of the Youth Council who wished to attend the national
1
Margaret Alexander, interview by Nicole Glinski, 2 April 2001, recording, Atkins Library UNC
Charlotte. 14:45.
2
Margaret Alexander, “Interview,” 15:50.
conference had to raise the money to pay for a seat on the bus. The children sold candy
within the community to raise money for their seats.3
In Washington D.C., the children stayed on Howard University’s campus and had
the opportunity to see Arlington Cemetery, the resting places of John F. Kennedy and
Medgar Evers, the first field secretary of the NAACP. They met prominent members of
the NAACP as well as Robert Kennedy.4 It was a wonderful experience for them to be
able to meet influential people, see the nation’s capital, and attend an NAACP national
conference.
The Friendship Junior Youth Council of the NAACP was a very rewarding
experience for the youth in Brooklyn. The NAACP’s activity in the Brooklyn
community gave members a chance to mingle and fight for equality. Through their
fundraisers and trips to conventions, relationships within the community became
stronger. They provided great experiences for the children as well as parents, who were
given a chance to become involved in their child’s activities by helping sell the candy and
working as chaperones.
The community of Brooklyn sponsored events to raise money to better the
neighborhood as well. When the Brevard Street Library opened in 1904, the community
banned together to fill the library with books and furniture because the city allocation of
funds did not provide enough for either. The community sponsored an baseball game to
raise money. Members of the community paired off as “Fats” versus “Leans” for the
game which made it not only fruitful, but also entertaining.5
Margaret Alexander, “Interview,” 16:22, 17:10.
Margaret Alexander, “Interview,” 16:22.
5
P. 130.
3
4
Another community fundraiser was the Queen City Classic football game between
Second Ward High School and West Charlotte High School. This football game was
held at Memorial Stadium and was the highlight of the football season. The females
competed to sell the most tickets and be crowned Miss Queen City Classic.6 The event
was overwhelming with parades, pep-rallies, and crowds. The intense rivalry between
West Charlotte and Second Ward made it all the more entertaining.
It was partly through these fundraising events that the sense of community within
Brooklyn was born. People banning together to raise money to better the library or
participate on a trip together is partly what gave rise to the overwhelming sense of
togetherness and friendship that made the Brooklyn community so strong and
memorable.
6
Betty Golden Holloway, interview by Jennifer Payne, 26 April 2007, recording, Atkins Library UNC
Charlotte. 10.0-15.0.